Overview
The number of women in work in the UK has continued to rise steadily since the turn of the century. As of October to December 2025, there were 16.69 million women in employment, and the female employment rate stood at 72.4%, though still lower than the male rate of 77.6%. While women are now the main breadwinners in almost a quarter of households and are statistically likely to live longer than men, they still often earn less. They are also more likely to be in lower-paid roles, with around 16–17% of jobs held by women falling below the real Living Wage, compared with around 12% for men. Their lives tend to follow different patterns from the men around them, taking time out of work to raise children, care for elderly relatives or look after grandchildren, all of which can have significant financial repercussions.
While the uptick in wealth for some is positive news, economic crises tend to hit women hardest and the cost-of-living crisis is no different. This is because women are over-represented in the categories likely to be hit hardest by inflation – including lone-parent households, and those with greater reliance on part-time, low-paid and precarious work.
While the appointment of the UK’s first female chancellor has been heralded as a ‘game-changer’ for gender representation in politics, the challenge for women across the board is making the most of their financial resources – whether stretching a smaller amount to last longer or growing surplus wealth to best effect. Trusted and targeted financial planning will take account of your specific needs across every stage of life so that you know your money is working for you.
