WOMEN in the region are being given the chance to tell the Chancellor of the Exchequer what more the government could do to support female employment.

George Osborne has embarked on a tour to talk to women working in all four sectors of the economy – services, agriculture, construction, and manufacturing.

HM Treasury says that under the present government female employment has increased in every sector, with nearly 80 per cent of the increase being in highly skilled occupations.

Previously growth was concentrated in the service sector.

New analysis based on latest labour market data shows that more women are in work than ever before and while it says the government has prioritised policies to help support women into employment, including tax free childcare and increasing the personal allowance, more could be done.

"If we could help 450,000 more women into work – 6.9% of those working age women currently out of work – the UK would have a female employment rate equal to Germany and the second highest overall employment rate in the G7," said a Treasury spokesman.

"Alongside cheaper childcare, the Chancellor is considering ways of boosting childcare provision. The Childcare Business Grant which has so far supported 29,000 new childcare places is due to finish at the end of the year, but by extending it for another year – and increasing funding to £2 million – the government could support a further 50,000 childcare places next year."

Mr Osborne said: "Our long-term economic plan is all about creating jobs and the economic security that comes with that. That is why we have introduced a New Enterprise Allowance and Childcare Business Grants and are now introducing tax free childcare, to support women who want to work.

"The Treasury research shows that women are playing an ever larger role in the economy, but it also makes clear that there’s more we can do to support women into work. That is why I am visiting women working in all four sectors of the economy to find out what more we can do."