Equality statement 2024

We regularly collect information relating to our employees and this helps us monitor and adapt to changes in our workforce profile and needs.

The data on staff numbers and age was taken from our people and payroll systems in December 2023. Data on other characteristics has been taken from our workforce equality, diversity and inclusion staff survey undertaken in April 2023. Employees were given the options of not responding or choosing to prefer not to say.

Staff numbers

We employ 313 people, 130 are female (42% compared to 51% of residents in the district) and 183 are male (58% compared to 49% of residents in the district). 251 (80%) work full time and 62 (20%) work part time.

The data in this section reflects the staff working for Lichfield District Council and does not reflect staff working for the council’s wholly owned subsidiary LWTMS. Our next equality statement will feature similar information covering LWMTS staff.

The age ranges of our workforce are shown below with a comparison to district residents.

Gender

The national census asked questions of gender diversity in two separate ways. Firstly, it asked whether someone is male or female, and secondly, whether an individual’s gender identity is the same or different to what was registered at their birth.

Within the wider community, 49% of census respondents answered they were male and 51% answered they were female. 0.3% of people responded that they do not identify with the gender they were assigned at birth.

The workforce survey provided more options for gender identity. The results show there are more women, non-binary and transgender people (50%) working for the council than men (48%). A similar pattern is present in the council’s leadership team.

The survey also asked the question of gender assigned at birth in a different way to the census. This highlighted that there is greater gender diversity amongst those working for the council than those living in the wider community, with 2% of respondents not identifying with the gender they were assigned at birth.

Sexual orientation

Around 2% of people living in the wider community are not heterosexual. This includes around 1% of people who are gay or lesbian. Sexuality is more diverse within the council’s workforce, with 4% of those surveyed being gay or lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, queer or other.

Ethnicity

The census data showed 95% of people living in the wider community are white British/English and 5% are from other ethnic groups. The second largest number of residents in the wider community are Asian, which includes Indian, Pakistani, and Chinese.

The workforce survey shows that 94% of people working for the council are white British/English and 6% are from other ethnic groups. This includes 1% of the workforce who identify as Irish, Gypsy or Irish Traveller.

Disability

According to the census, 17% of people living in the wider community are disabled under the Equalities Act and, of these, 14% are aged between 15 - 64 years. A further 8% have a long-term physical or mental health condition, but their day-to-day activities are not limited.

According to the workforce survey, 15% of our employees have a disability, illness, or health condition. It is worth bearing in mind that whilst the census surveyed all ages, the workforce survey only reflects people in employment.

Religion

The census showed that 57% of the wider community identify as Christian, 3% follow a religion that is not a Christian denomination, and 40% follow no religion.

The religious population in workforce is representative of the wider community, with Christianity being the most prevalent religion (51%). 41% of people identify as not following any religion, meaning that around 8% follow a religion that is not a Christian denomination. Other religions such as Paganism were selected.