The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has responded to a new report ìJobs for the Girlsî by emphasising how temporary work can provide the stepping stone to women wanting to get back into the jobs market and further their careers.
The report, published by the Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Committee, calls for more funding and support to eliminate the gender pay gap.
Commenting on the report, Anne Fairweather, the RECís Head of Public Policy said: ìWe would fully support its recommendations. In many cases there is a role for temporary work to provide the ideal starting point for women either entering the job market for the first time, who are returning or who want to find a new role which fits in with their lifestyle.
ìTaking on temporary assignments is a great way for anyone, irrespective of gender, to familiarise themselves with the world of work. But for women, it does provide an excellent opportunity not only to choose roles which are compatible with their other commitments, but allow them to develop their own skills-base through experiencing a variety of different work places.
ìWe would fully endorse the recommendation that support should be given to older women wanting a change of work direction or who are returning to work. Here is another area where the skills and knowledge of careers that recruitment agents hold, coupled with some temping could help assist in diversifying womenís career options.î
The role the recruitment industry could play in getting more lone parents into work was examined in research commissioned by the REC last year.
The researchers highlighted a number of skills which could be used to place more lone parents into work including:
ï The ability to broker employment through trust relationships built over time with employers;
ï Access to casual temporary jobs that can provide a source of work experience or potentially an easier route back into work;
ï A focus on in-work contact and maintaining continuity of employment for job candidates. This could be used to develop greater in-work support services for lone parents;
ï Specialist knowledge of a range of specific industries, occupations, career progression routes, and training and skills requirement for jobs. This knowledge could be utilised to help foster employment progression and identify career routes and training needs.
REC highlights the role of temp work in diversifying female careers
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