Employment & Gender v2

Key Messages

Men have a higher employment rate than women in Somerset. In April 2025 to March 2026, 80.1% of working-age men (16 to 64) were in employment, compared with 76.6% of women. This gender gap is broadly consistent with patterns seen across the South West and the UK.
A smaller proportion of women are self-employed compared to men. Of the working age employed women 14.4% were self-employed between April 2025 and March 2026, compared with 18.5% of men.
Men recorded a higher unemployment rate than women. Of the working age men, 4.1% recorded as unemployed, compared with 1.4% of women. The female figure is significantly lower than the UK average of 4.3% of working age women. Though gender-specific unemployment estimates should be interpreted with caution because confidence intervals are relatively wide for Somerset.
A greater proportion of women are economically inactive. In April 2025 to March 2026, the economic inactivity rate was 22.3% for women and 16.4% for men.
Long-term sickness or disability is the most common reason for economic inactivity for both men and women. This accounted for 45.2% of inactive men and 28.1% of inactive women in Somerset.
The reasons for economic inactivity differ between men and women. Men are more likely to be inactive because they are, while women are substantially more likely to be inactive due to caring responsibilities (looking after family/home).
Despite men being more inactive due to being students, the percentage has fallen sustainably over the last 2 years. From 40.7 % in Apr 2023 – Mar 2024 to 13.6% in Apr 2025 – Mar 2026. Both men and women inactivity due to students is below South West and UK.

Implications

Gender differences in labour market participation remain an important feature of Somerset’s workforce.

While the overall patterns are similar to that seen across the South West and UK, differences in employment, unemployment and economic inactivity continue to influence the size and composition of Somerset’s available workforce.

Caring responsibilities remain a significant factor affecting women’s participation in the labour market. This suggests that access to flexible working arrangements, childcare provision and family-friendly employment practices may continue to play an important role in supporting workforce participation.

The higher levels of self-employment amongst men may reflect differences in the industries and occupations in which men and women work. Understanding these sector-specific employment patterns will be important when considering business growth and entrepreneurship support.

Long-term sickness and disability represent the largest reason for economic inactivity among both genders. Supporting residents with health conditions to remain in, return to, or access employment is therefore likely to remain an important challenge for Somerset’s labour market.

Together, these findings highlight the importance of reducing barriers to labour market participation, supporting flexible pathways into work, and ensuring employment opportunities are accessible to people with different caring responsibilities, health needs and life circumstances.

What Are We Doing?

Somerset Council and its partners are working to reduce barriers to labour market participation and help residents access, remain in, and progress within employment. Many of the gender differences observed in the labour market are linked to factors such as caring responsibilities, health and wellbeing. A range of local services and programmes are therefore available to support residents in overcoming these barriers, developing skills and confidence, and accessing employment and training opportunities.

Supporting Women into Employment

Women’s Work Lab

Supports women, particularly mothers returning to work.
Provides training, career coaching, mentoring, employability support, and work placements.

Find out more: https://www.womensworklab.co.uk/

Somerset Women’s Centre (The Nelson Trust)

Provides women-only service covering mental health, housing, finances, relationships, trauma, education, training and employment.
Supports women facing multiple barriers to employment and wellbeing.

Find out more: The Somerset Women’s Centre – Open Mental Health and https://www.nelsontrust.com/womens-centres/