KIRKLEES council has been named in fourth place in a regional survey on the number of women among top-paid workers.
Figures from general union the GMB show that females account for 46.1% of the top earner at Kirklees.
That puts the local authority in fourth place among 15 councils in Yorkshire and the Humber for the proportion of women making up the top 5% of earners.
Hull heads the table with women comprising 47.6% of the highest-paid council employees with North East Lincolnshire second at 47.3% and Doncaster third at 46.7%.
Bradford has the lowest proportion of women among the top earners at 35.4%. Among other districts, Calderdale is ninth with 43.6%, Leeds is 13th at 36.5% and Wakefield is 14th on 35.9%.
Women make up more than half of the top 5% of earners in 22 local authorities across the UK, the GMB said. That compares with 16 councils a year ago. Thurrock in Essex tops the table with 58.6% while Lewisham in London is second on 56.3%.
Kamaljeet Jandu, GMB national equality and diversity officer, said: “Women in local government have started to break through the glass ceiling into the top jobs. It is no accident that this is happening in a trade union that is strong and fights for equal opportunities.”
She said: “Given the increasing role of women in the labour market, some councils have woken up to the talent, skills and expertise that women bring to the workplace.
“Other institutions and employers, particularly in the private sector, are missing out on women’s wealth of talent.”
