According to a new analysis by Ciphr, a provider of HR software, the two most common jobs for women are care workers and software developers.
The largest group of full-time employees is the care workers, estimated to be over half a milllion (501,400), in the year up to December 2024. This is about 2.3% (excluding self-employed workers) of the UK’s 21.7million full-time workers.
With 487,000 full-time workers, programmers and software developers – a term that includes 127 job titles – are just behind. This occupation is the most common in London, South East and East of England.
With 385,000 teachers, secondary school teaching is the third most common full-time occupation.
A significant number of full time workers also hold jobs such as office administrators and clerical assistance (369,100 employees estimated), sales account and business development managers (319,000), and financial managers or directors (311,900).
What are the top 10 full-time jobs in the UK?
- Estimated number of care workers and home caregivers: 501 400 (PS25.570 per annum)
- Professionals in the field of software development and programming: 487,000 (PS54 666)
- Professionals in secondary education: 385,000 (PS45.384)
- Other administrative occupations (n.e.c.) : 369,100 (PS27,550)
- Sales Accounts and Business Development Managers: 319.700 (PS55.200)
- Financial managers and Directors: 311,900
- Warehouse operatives: 276 800 (PS26 401)
- Professionals in primary education: 268 400 (PS42,763)
- Other nursing professionals: 265 300 (PS40 737)
- Large goods vehicle drivers: 250,300 (PS38,761)
Most common jobs for women and men
Surprisingly, the top 10 jobs most commonly held by women are very different from those held most frequently by men. According to the ONS data, only two occupations appear on both lists – secondary teachers and financial managers or directors.
It is clear that gender segregation still exists in the UK job market. Men or women are over- or underestimated in many common occupations. Women make up two-fifths of the full-time work force (42%) but only a fifth (20%) hold IT professional roles, and seventy-four percent (74%) hold roles in health care. Men, who make up over half of the full-time work force (58%) hold nine out of ten skilled trades jobs (91%) but only a third of administrative and secretarial roles (33%)
The top five UK jobs for full-time women employees are home care workers, other nursing professionals, including registered nurses, staff nurse, matrons and sisters, and ward managers.
Programmers and software developers, LGV drivers and warehouse operatives are the five jobs that have the most male full-time employees.
Over time, occupational gender segregation can lead to stereotypes, bias and negative career advancement. It also negatively impacts employee mobility and training opportunities.
The UK has a persistently high gender wage gap (in favor of men), despite the fact that it has been reduced by half over the last 20 years, from 14.5% on average in 2004 to just 7% for full-time workers in 2024. The UK still has a stubbornly high gender pay gap (in favour of men) despite it halving over the last 20 years from an average of 14.5% in 2004 to 7% in 2024 for full-time employees.
Ciphr research shows that 75 percent (15) of the top 20 jobs for men are paid more than the UK median salary average of 37,430 PS. Comparatively, only 40% (or 8) of the 20 commonest jobs held by men pay them more than the UK median salary.
Employers can address the gender pay gap by introducing equal pay audits, pay transparency policies and increased investment in diversity training. This will eliminate biases in recruitment and promotional processes and increase access to flexible work arrangements.
Ciphr, the leading provider of HR and payroll solutions and software in the UK for large and medium-sized organisations. The integrated software, services, and content of its HR, payroll and benefits, learning, and recruitment departments provide valuable insights for HR teams. This helps them to develop and grow their organisation and inform their people strategies. Ciphr, based in Reading is on a quest to amplify the voice and value HR by providing intelligent solutions for people data. This will help HR be heard in the boardroom as well as across the organisation.
Visit www.ciphr.com for more information.
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