Writing Task 1: Recent Exam 22/03/2025
You have approximately 20 minutes to complete this task.
The table below gives information about employment patterns for men and women in New Zealand in two separate years.
Provide an overview of the information by identifying and describing the key details, and include comparisons where appropriate.
Your report should comprise a minimum of 150 words
Employment Patterns
| Sector | 1993 (% of Female Workforce) | 1993 (% of Male Workforce) | 2003 (% of Female Workforce) | 2003 (% of Male Workforce) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Services and transport | 53 | 22 | 36 | 31 |
| Agriculture | 8 | 38 | 6 | 8 |
| Business | 1 | 7 | 22 | 25 |
| Manufacturing | 25 | 16 | 12 | 17 |
| Building | 0 | 12 | 6 | 10 |
| Social services | 13 | 5 | 18 | 9 |
Model Answer:
The table provides data on employment patterns in New Zealand across six sectors for both male and female workers in the years 1993 and 2003.
Overall, women were more dominant in the services and transport sector in 1993, but by 2003, their presence had become more balanced across multiple sectors. Men, on the other hand, continued to show higher participation in traditionally male-dominated sectors such as agriculture, building, and manufacturing, though there were some changes over the decade.
In 1993, the majority of women (53%) worked in services and transport, while only 22% of men were in this field. However, by 2003, female participation in this sector dropped to 36%, while male involvement rose to 31%, indicating a shift toward more gender balance. The business sector saw the most dramatic increase in female employment, rising from just 1% in 1993 to 22% in 2003, while male involvement also increased to 25%.
Agriculture experienced a decline in both genders, especially men, dropping from 38% to 8%. Manufacturing also saw a decrease for women, from 25% to 12%, but remained relatively stable for men. Interestingly, the building sector, which had no female representation in 1993, saw an increase to 6% in 2003, suggesting a gradual shift in gender roles.
In contrast, social services became more prominent for both genders, especially women, whose participation rose from 13% to 18%.
Total 226 words
