Research from the charity Young Women’s Trust has found that nearly a third of managers with responsibility for HR and recruitment decisions (30%) agreed that they are aware of instances of young women being discriminated against in the past year.
The data comes alongside a survey of young women who reported rising levels of discrimination which reached a three year high in 2024 (53% have experienced discrimination at work, up from 42% in 2022).
For racially minoritised young women, the picture is bleaker as the percentage rose by two fifths from 44% in 2022 to 61% in 2024.
Evidence of pay discrimination continues and despite it being illegal, 1 in 10 (10%) HR decision makers admitted that they were aware of women being paid less than men for jobs at the same level. Almost a fifth (19%) don’t think that their organisation takes gender pay gap reporting seriously enough.
When asked about the barriers that prevent organisations from creating a fairer and more equitable working environment for young women, they cite a lack of resources, lack of support from senior management and not understanding best practice.
Almost a quarter (23%) of young women also said that they have been paid less than male colleagues who do the same or similar work. This has been disappointingly consistent for the last three years (24% in 2022 and 23% in 2023). Furthermore, over a fifth (22%) of young women also said that they have been paid less than the minimum wage they were entitled to.
The research found that discrimination is multilayered with young women reporting prejudice based on age (28%), sex (16%), appearance (18%), for having caring responsibilities (25%) and because of a long term mental health condition (35%). For black young women racial discrimination rose to 39% up from 31% in 2022 and for Asian young women rates have increased from 24% in 2022 to 31% in 2024.
Sexual harassment is a devastatingly common feature of working life – over a quarter of young women (26%) told us they had experienced this. A third (33%) of HR decision makers also agreed that sexist behaviour still exists in the workplace.
Furthermore, almost 3 in 10 (28%) young women said that women are not given the same opportunities as men to progress in their organisation. This was mirrored by feedback from HR decision makers with an almost identical proportion (27%).
Whilst discrimination is spiralling, almost a fifth of young (18%) say that they don’t know their rights in relation to workplace discrimination. They also say that when it does happen they don’t feel comfortable to report it (24%) and almost 2 in 5 (38%) would not feel confident to challenge pay inequality.
Young Women’s Trust are urging employers to act now to create workplace cultures where unfair treatment is not tolerated. Resources are available here which provide information on what they can do to ensure a culture where discrimination is challenged, reported, addressed and where whistleblowers are supported. The best companies are closing pay gaps by taking action in areas like pay transparency and through supporting the promotion of women.
Claire Reindorp, Chief Executive at Young Women’s Trust, said: “Discrimination should have no place in our workplaces but the reality is that as a young woman in 2024 you are more likely than not to be experiencing it. We cannot accept that this is just a normal part of working life. Its harmful effects will scar young women well into their futures, from shattered confidence and poor mental health to a lifetime of lower pay. Most urgently, we must address the deeply alarming rise in racial discrimination that Black and Asian young women are facing at work. Only then will we have a workforce with equal chances to contribute and succeed, for the benefit of everyone.”
