SCOTLAND has been ranked top among the 12 nations and regions of the UK in terms of representation of women in the workplace, analysis by PricewaterhouseCoopers shows.

The indicators that make up the accountancy firm’s women in work index include the gender pay gap, and female labour force participation. The other three indicators are the gap between male and female labour force participation, the unemployment rate for women, and the female full-time employment rate.

PwC noted Scotland was either ahead of, or equal to, the UK average for four of the five measures that make up the women in work index.

The only measure on which Scotland trailed the UK average was the female full-time employment rate. This was 59 per cent in Scotland and 60% UK-wide.

Scotland’s overall female labour force participation, at 72%, was ahead of the UK average.

Lindsey Paterson, an assurance partner and head of diversity and inclusion for PwC in Scotland, said: “Scotland’s strong performance across all metrics shows our country is making significant progress in addressing gender imbalance. The issue is clearly moving up the political agenda and is something all businesses must address with a sense of urgency.

“The one area where Scotland is below average is in relation to the number of women in full-time employment, albeit this is offset by the higher level of female labour force participation.”

The UK is ranked 13th in the latest analysis of representation of women in the workplace, among 33 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Countries, having climbed from 14th. Iceland is top.