One In Five Women Are Now The Main Or Sole Earners
As The Apprentice enters its sixth season, new research out today reveals that 29 per cent of women now bring home a higher salary than their partners compared to a quarter of women (25 per cent) five years ago.
The Working Women study, commissioned by female friendly insurer Sheilas' Wheels, reveals that as well as over a fifth (22 per cent) of women being the main or sole earner in the home, 44 per cent of men in the UK would now happily stay at home to look after the family and household to let their partners bring home the bacon.
According to the findings, 86 per cent of men are comfortable with their other halves earning more than them - with over half (54 per cent) even willing to put their career on the backseat so that their partners can keep working. A third (33 per cent) of men admitted that they would have felt differently ten years ago.
Over a fifth of men (22 per cent) consider money to be the driving force for their career, this is in contrast to one in ten women (12 per cent) who consider a big salary to be the most important and one in five (19 per cent) who state that being passionate about their job is top of their list.
Nonetheless, with more women working now than ever before, the study found that over one million career-hungry women would choose success in the workplace over a relationship.
One in eight (12 per cent) women have returned to work because of the recession and a third (30 per cent) have increased their working hours to help boost the family income. As a result, over 11 million employees in the UK now work for a female boss or superior.
Jacky Brown at Sheilas' Wheels commented: "It is great to see evidence of an emerging breed of ambitious and aspirational women in today's society.
"In the past five years alone our research has shown that there has been a definite shift in the amount of women who have returned to work or increased their working hours, and with an estimated 200,000 domestic dads in the UK(4) it is great to see women stepping up and taking control.
"Sheilas' Wheels continues to celebrate empowered women and champions female role models in the workplace."
Regional differences
.Those in the East of England are most likely to work for a female boss or superior (46 per cent) than any other region in the UK
.Over a fifth (22 per cent) of those from the East Midlands admit that they have had to get another job alongside their existing one as a result of the recession
.Those in the North West of England are most likely to offer to put their own career on hold for their partner or spouse's career (62 per cent)
Age differences
.The younger generations seem much more open to the idea of working for a female boss or superior with over a fifth (22 per cent) of under 25 year olds stating that they would be quite happy working for a woman as opposed to only one in ten (11 per cent) of over 55 year olds
.Those aged between 25 and 34 are the age group who are most prepared to be a stay-at-home spouse so that their other half can focus on their career (53 per cent)
.A quarter (24 per cent) of under 25's admit to having to get another job alongside their existing one because of the recession
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