The SkillsActive workforce has a high proportion of women working in the sector:

• 58% of the workforce in England is female
• 59% in Wales
• 60% in Scotland
• 55% in Northern Ireland

Across the industries the gender balance varies: playwork is 86% female; the caravan industry is 64% male.

Source: Skills Needs Assessment – England 2005

The workforce has a higher proportion of young people aged 16 -24 (25%) than the workforce across the UK (14%).  These will, however, be concentrated at 18 years and over as regulations and licensing requirements discourage the employment of those aged under 18 years.  However, this can vary by sub-sector:

• the sport, fitness and outdoors sub-sectors have a much younger profile to that of the other sectors and conversely,
• playwork and the caravan industry are relatively older.

Source: Skills Needs Assessment – England 2005

The workforce is predominantly drawn from white ethnic groups (95%), which is similar to employment across the UK (93%).
 
Source: Skills Needs Assessment – England 2005

Source: Skills Needs Assessment – England 2005, table 3.4.1.  Data from the 2004 Labour Force Survey.

There seems to be little or no data on those working in the sector with disabilities.

In Northern Ireland, less than 1% of the Active Leisure and Learning sector are registered disabled.

Source: Skills Needs Assessment – Northern Ireland 2006