This chapter i s concerned with the s t ructure of job opportunities t h a t face women i n general and young women i n pa r t i cu la r . In recent years the re have been a number of changes t h a t have affected the d i s t r ibu t ion of women i n the labour force. In addition there have been very s ign i f i can t changes i n the pa r t i c ipa t ion of women i n the labour force. Against t h i s general background we w i l l attempt t o examine some of the fac to r s t h a t determine the d i s t r ibu t ion of opportunities fo r women a t the loca l l eve l .