In 2024, Smart Works spoke to 4,912 women across the UK about their experiences of unemployment, the job market, and the hardships faced when trying to find a job.

Now in its third year, the Smart Works Unemployment Index concluded that the state of the job market deteriorated significantly throughout 2024. The hardships and barriers experienced by women seeking work have worsened beyond what the staff and volunteers at Smart Works could have imagined.

But there are still reasons to be hopeful. Between a new political will to support unemployed people, a range of charities and organisations dedicated to improving the conditions faced by unemployed people, and the ever-expanding Smart Works service, there is a concerted effort to help the thousands of unemployed women across the UK.

The inaugural Smart Works Unemployment Index analysed a three-month pilot study carried out at the end of 2022. Inspired by the stories of the women who walk through our doors every day, we wanted to ensure that our clients’ voices are heard and understood by those who have the power and means to create a better route to employment for women in the UK.

The inaugural study laid the groundwork for future iterations of the Index, highlighting the extensive barriers women face when seeking employment.