CITY of York council employs the highest proportion of women among its top wage earners in our region - according to a new survey.

Researchers found that almost half (45 per cent) of the top five per cent of wage earners at the authority were women.

The survey revealed huge differences in the number of women working for local authorities in North and East Yorkshire, despite pressure to provide equal opportunities.

Selby District Council registered only 15 per cent, placing it among some of the lowest councils in England and Wales, but East Riding (39 per cent) and North Yorkshire (35 per cent) faired better.

Among the power women at York council are deputy chief executive Laura McGillivray who on Monday announced a move to Norwich, where she will become chief executive. Other officers included in the survey by the GMB union Rutland council came top with women making up more than half (54 per cent) of their top wage earners.

Rehana Azam, equal rights officer for the union, said: "These figures show that if employers put their minds to it, women can get a fair deal and break through the glass ceiling."

Julia Spittle, of Hambleton District Council, said the council has a low staff turnover and had been focusing on development programmes to give women skills that would unlock the door to top jobs.

She said: "Our promotion procedures have been reviewed so that they are fair and transparent, and a women's networking agency is in the process of being set up so that the figures should soon be able to even themselves up."

Robert Holdsworth, of the Equal Opportunities Commission, said: "These figures are encouraging. It's really good that things have been improving for women, but there is still a long way to go with about an 80 per cent overall pay gap, especially on the boards of directors for companies."

He said women were still underrepresented at the top of local government and that from 2007 public bodies will have a new legal obligation to eliminate sex discrimination.

Percentage of top five per cent of wage earners at local authorities who are women

Council (%)

York 45

East Riding of Yorkshire 39

North Yorkshire 35

Hambleton 23

Ryedale 23

Selby 15

Updated: 09:50 Wednesday, October 19, 2005