Recommendation 12

Functioning societies need people who have the skills to deliver services in all areas of the economy. These people need to be paid competitively - and fairly. We acknowledge the importance of equal access to opportunities for men and women, and the negative socio-economic effect of existing gender disparities in the workplace. We ask the Government to set out, by means of its funding streams such as City and Growth Deals, how it plans to ensure that future investment takes account of the importance not only of ensuring STEM opportunities for all, but of improving the pay and conditions in currently low-salaried and female-dominated sectors, so that there are better jobs in all areas of the economy. (Paragraph 70) 34 Investment inNorthern Ireland