Girls who participate in after-school sport in the UK are 50% more likely to secure top jobs later in life, a study has found. The research, commissioned by Sky and conducted by Public First, indicates that the benefit is equivalent to that of a university degree.
Despite these advantages, girls are far less likely to play sport than boys. The study reveals that 11- to 18-year-old girls miss out on 1.4 hours of sport per week, equating to 280 million hours annually. Cost and lack of local access exclude an additional 340,000 girls, with one in three girls surveyed reporting that boys have access to a wider range of sports.
The research attributes the career boost to the resilience, confidence, and adaptability that sport builds. Women who played extracurricular sport as children are almost a third more likely to handle pressure well and bounce back after setbacks, and a fifth more likely to enjoy trying new things. The report estimates that enabling an 18-year-old girl to play sport could generate £30,000 in lifetime economic benefit per person, leading to £6.5 billion in economic and health benefits by 2035, including £570 million in annual productivity gains and £73 million in NHS savings each year.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy acknowledged that while broadcasters are increasing visibility of women's sport, grassroots barriers persist. She highlighted the government's £400 million investment in areas lacking sports facilities and curriculum changes to ensure equal access. However, Professor Stacey Pope of Durham University noted that inequalities have persisted across generations, with recent studies revealing openly misogynistic attitudes towards women's sport. She called for concrete actions from stakeholders, including the government and media.
The research also found that more than half (55%) of girls said watching professional athletes inspired them to play, and two-thirds agreed that diverse athletes showed sport was for everyone. However, a third of girls aged 11 to 18 experienced sexist comments while playing, rising to 42% among 15- to 18-year-olds, and nearly a quarter experienced sexual comments. Sky is calling for targeted tax relief for women's sport production to increase coverage and jobs.
