Report Summary
As a public body, SPA has a specific duty to publish relevant information to demonstrate our compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED), part of the Equality Act 2010. We publish information relating to our recruitment practices and information about employees who share protected characteristics from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.
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Sex
According to the 2022 Scottish Census figures, there were 2,728,000 women in Scotland, outnumbering men by around 150,000. The split across the country shows women at 51.4% of the population and men at 48.6% - little difference from the figures reported in 2011.
In terms of the overall workforce, 69.88% are female and 30.12% are male.
82.5% of new starts in 2024 were female, an increase from the 2023 figure of 78.82%.
In 2023, of those who left the Authority, the split was 32% male compared to 68% female.
Female representation across our workforce has gradually increased since the figure of 63% reported in 2014.
The gender pay gap on 31 March 2024 was 9.5%.
Data from the Scottish Government shows the gender pay gap for full-time employees in Scotland in 2024 was 2.2%, lower than the UK-wide figure of 7%.
To enhance understanding on the causes of the gap, representation in relation to sex has been assessed based on pay quartiles (i.e. the lower, lower middle, upper middle and upper quartile pay bands).
Our data shows the highest percentage of representation for both females and males is the third pay quartile, although male representation is 9% higher.
When considering reasons for the pay gap, the data also shows that male representation in the highest pay band is almost double that of females and that within the lowest pay band, females are overrepresented in comparison to males.
The key area of focus in terms of sex is under representation at higher grades.
Through engagement with diversity staff associations, trades unions and consideration of relevant research and evidence, we will continue to seek to understand any barriers to recruitment and/or progression of females to senior roles.
