The Smart Works Unemployment Index 2025 report: The Gendered Reality of Job-Seeking.⁣⁣ We were proud to attend the Smart Works Unemployment Index this week at the House of Lords. ⁣⁣It was great to see Navendu Mishra, MP for Stockport, join us as our guest and show his support for Smart Works, as well as hearing from one of our Greater Manchester clients featured in the index, who shared her story of the challenges of unemployment.⁣

The findings are stark. Modern recruitment practices are unintentionally locking women out of work. 63% of women say the job search damages their confidence, with many applying for dozens of roles without ever reaching a human reader.⁣⁣⁣⁣These aren’t just numbers, they reflect determined women navigating rejection, silence and systems that fail to see their potential.⁣⁣⁣⁣

This report is a call to bring humanity back.⁣⁣ You can read the full report here.⁣⁣

Keep your eyes peeled for our regional Greater Manchester Index launch coming soon!