Children ‘main block to womens’ careers’

PREGNANCY and children are the two biggest obstacles to Irish women pursuing a successful career, a poll by a global online recruitment agency revealed yesterday.

Over 50% of Irish women polled by Monster.ie in a two-week period said childbearing and children were the main factors contributing to the glass ceiling in their careers.

Irish women account for less than 20% of senior management positions - despite the fact that women make up over 42% of the Irish labour force, Monster.ie marketing manager Fiona Sexton said.

The figures for pay are also alarming, with average hourly earnings for women 15% lower than for men.

The National Women’s Council (NWC) yesterday called on the Government to subsidise childcare costs by up to 70% to help parents crippled by escalating prices.

“Other European countries have major subsidisation of childcare places of between 50% to 70% and we want the Government here to provide the same scale of funding for crèches and after-school care here,” NWC policy director Orla O’Connor said.

The Monster poll of Irish women who logged on to their website asked: “What do you think is the biggest obstacle for women in pursuing a successful career?” Some 54% blamed pregnancy and children; 11% said they had difficulty being accepted as equals by men; 10% cited a salary gap compared to men and 10% said they were put off by inconsiderate workplace attitudes.

Ms Sexton said: “Professional women still have problems juggling their responsibilities at home and managing their careers - it’s the biggest obstacle in preventing women pursuing higher level roles today.”

Long hours and inflexible schedules are also contributing factors, Ms Sexton said.

The NWC is conducting a survey of the cost of childcare and will publish the results in June.

The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, which has responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare programme, yesterday defended the level of funding given to the sector. “Under this programme, 36,000 new childcare places have been created between 2000-2005,” a Department spokesman said. The Government will also provide €725 million to crèche owners between 2000 and 2009 to provide more childcare places.