Number of women at work on the rise

There has been strong growth in the numbers of women in the workforce, including some traditionally male-dominated industries, according to figures released yesterday by the Central Statistics Office.

According to the CSO, the number of women at work in 2006 was 822,808, up from 678,334 in 2002. This rise, at 144,474, was marginally higher than the growth in the number of men at work, which was 143,981.

However, in some instances it is clear that the growth in numbers of women workers far outstrips that of male workers.

The largest increases were in the area of wholesale and retail trades where numbers of women rose from 99,670 in 2002 to 123,765 in 2006. This rise of 24,095 was against a backdrop of an increase in the industry generally of 38,144 workers.

The rise of women workers in education was even more pronounced. Numbers of women employed rose by almost 16,000, out of overall growth in the education field of just over 18,000.

The survey also revealed:

In the "caring professions" such as health and social work, there was a rise of almost 48,000 workers, some 41,000 of whom were women.

In the area of "other community, social and personal services" activities, some 11,182 women accounted for a rise in the workforce of 16,025.

In real estate, renting and business activities the number of women at work rose by just over 15,000, compared to an increase in the overall number of workers of almost 30,000.

The number of women at work in the banking and financial services area rose at a lesser rate, by more than 8,000, against a backdrop of a rise of almost 30,000 workers generally.

The numbers of women in the agriculture, forestry and fishing industry bucked a declining trend generally to rise by about 1,000.

The numbers of women workers in the construction industry grew from 7,312 in 2002 to 11,834 in 2006, a rise of 4,522. However, this was against a background of a rise in the number of construction workers generally of more than 65,000.

Meanwhile, more than one- third of those involved in tourism were born abroad, according the CSO. Based on the 2006 census, the figures showed almost 36,000 - or 36 per cent - of all workers in the hotel and restaurant trade were born outside the State.

The next highest percentage of workers born outside the State were those in business activities and manufacturing, each with more than 20 per cent. In the construction sector 19.3 per cent were born outside the State. In numerical terms the largest number of workers born outside the State was 49,000 in manufacturing, 44,000 in the wholesale and retail trade and 40,800 in construction.