JobsGroup.net Campaigns to Find Female Engineers to Bridge the Gender Divide

- Female recruits will help combat chronic UK skills shortage
- 6% vacancy rate in skilled construction industry with 99% male
workforce

Niche online recruitment network JobsGroup.net today launch a new initiative to encourage more women to pursue jobs in industry sectors where they are under-represented, such as engineering and construction, in response to a report published yesterday by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC).

The EOC report found that whilst women make up 49 per cent of the total UK workforce they represent just ten per cent of engineering and one per cent of construction jobs. The report also noted UK industry is facing major skills shortages in sectors where women are under-represented ñ for example, six per cent of skill shortage vacancies are in skilled construction occupations, where 99 per cent of the workforce is male.

JobsGroup.net figures confirm this trend and show that of the 58,238 registered job seekers at www.JustEngineers.net just six per cent are female. There are currently over 8,000 engineering related vacancies on the site this week alone.

Managing director of JobsGroup.net Mark Hepworth comments, ìWe are committed to finding ways to encourage more young women to pursue their aspirations in traditionally male dominated fields such as engineering, construction, aviation and rail. Although women are increasingly interested in studying subjects once thought of as the preserve of men, they are often not going on to apply for the jobs available to them. As the shortage of skills in the UK leads to more desirable vacancies there has never been a better time for women to pursue these careers.î

JobsGroup.net will be promoting their network of niche recruitment sites, which includes the award-winning www.JustEngineers.net, www.JustConstruction.net, www.Just4Aviation.net and www.JustRail.net, in womenís consumer media and on university campuses and colleges over the coming weeks to demonstrate to female students and graduates ñ and to girls at school still choosing which subjects to study - that well-paid and attractive jobs are available in abundance in engineering and construction. All JobsGroup.net sites now also provide links to www.works4me.org.uk, the Equal Opportunities Commission interactive advice guide for young people choosing a career.

JobsGroup.net operates niche sites for the engineering, rail, construction, utilities, aviation, defence, sales and marketing, executive and graduate sectors. Job seekers can register free and within minutes gain access to the UKís most active recruiters. Career tools and advice are available on all the sites, including free CV reviews and discussion forums, to help job seekers maximise their chances of success.