Latest news with #GlobalGenderGapIndex
Zawya
10-03-2025
- Science
- Zawya
Gender parity: Driver of economic growth
The global gender gap score for 146 countries is 68.5%; compared to last year, the gender gap has been closed only by +.1 percentage points. Despite the efforts, the lack of widespread change has slowed the progress towards gender parity. If we progress at this rate, it will take the world 134 years to reach full gender parity, which roughly equals five generations. Though the increase is only +.01 percentage points compared to last year, 97% of the 146 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index have closed more than 60% of their gender gaps. Iceland is the only country that has closed 90% of its gender gap. While Iceland tops the list of the top 10 countries, seven spots are taken by European economies in addition to Iceland. Eight top 10 countries have closed over 80% of their gender gap. The Global Gender Gap Index measures gender parity across four dimensions: Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment. Among the 146 countries analysed, the Health and Survival gender gap closed by 96%, the Education Attainment gap closed by 94.9%, the Economic Participation and Opportunity gap closed by 60.5%, and Political Empowerment by 22.5%. The parity in labour force participation stands at 66.7%. Though women's participation in the workforce is increasing globally, parity advances vary differently across sectors. Women's participation in leadership roles remains low across every industry and economy. Women account for 42% of the global market and represent 31.7% of senior leadership roles. LinkedIn data shows that women's hiring into leadership had begun to deteriorate from 37.5% to 36.4%. In 2024, 60 national elections represented the most significant global population that voted in many major economies. Gender parity in parliamentary representation reached a record high of 33.3% in 2024 and improved over time. LinkedIn data also reflects that men have more extensive and vigorous networks than women. Stronger networks are indicative of accessibility to more opportunities and outreach. 16 Gender1 According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), women's participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and non-STEM has increased. Yet, women remain underrepresented in STEM roles, comprising only 28.2% of STEM compared to 47.3% in non-stem sectors, as AI is increasingly used in businesses. Data shows that female talent in AI has doubled since 2016 — gender parity in the AI industry, education, professional services, manufacturing, technology and media have increased. According to Coursera, gender parity is the highest in collaboration and leadership skills, teaching and mentoring, empathy and active listening, leadership and social influence. Still, it is lower in AI and big data. As men and women enter the workforce after graduation, their skill sets are still shaped and valued differently. In conclusion, the scale and speed of progress are deeply insufficient to reach gender parity by 2030. The global community must recognise and accept that gender parity is difficult. All stakeholders, governments, businesses, academia and civic societies — must collectively participate and collaborate for broader engagement and strive to bring incremental change to accelerate progress towards gender equality in all sectors worldwide. Striving for gender parity has longer-lasting implications in a highly competitive and dynamic business environment and is a cogent thought that must be ingrained in every human mind. The world must raise the required resources and adopt economic policies to bridge the gender gap. It is only possible when there is a fundamental change in mindset to recognise gender parity as a driver of high-quality growth. The world must elevate to a condition of equitable and sustainable development, where we can make 50/50 a reality in the new paradigm of thinking. Gender equality leads to stronger, more resilient economies by promoting economic growth and labour productivity. It would be a sustainable and crucial step in working towards a society that considers an individual based on merit, not gender. 2022 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Observer
09-03-2025
- Science
- Observer
Gender parity: Driver of economic growth
The global gender gap score for 146 countries is 68.5%; compared to last year, the gender gap has been closed only by +.1 percentage points. Despite the efforts, the lack of widespread change has slowed the progress towards gender parity. If we progress at this rate, it will take the world 134 years to reach full gender parity, which roughly equals five generations. Though the increase is only +.01 percentage points compared to last year, 97% of the 146 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index have closed more than 60% of their gender gaps. Iceland is the only country that has closed 90% of its gender gap. While Iceland tops the list of the top 10 countries, seven spots are taken by European economies in addition to Iceland. Eight top 10 countries have closed over 80% of their gender gap. The Global Gender Gap Index measures gender parity across four dimensions: Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment. Among the 146 countries analysed, the Health and Survival gender gap closed by 96%, the Education Attainment gap closed by 94.9%, the Economic Participation and Opportunity gap closed by 60.5%, and Political Empowerment by 22.5%. The parity in labour force participation stands at 66.7%. Though women's participation in the workforce is increasing globally, parity advances vary differently across sectors. Women's participation in leadership roles remains low across every industry and economy. Women account for 42% of the global market and represent 31.7% of senior leadership roles. LinkedIn data shows that women's hiring into leadership had begun to deteriorate from 37.5% to 36.4%. In 2024, 60 national elections represented the most significant global population that voted in many major economies. Gender parity in parliamentary representation reached a record high of 33.3% in 2024 and improved over time. LinkedIn data also reflects that men have more extensive and vigorous networks than women. Stronger networks are indicative of accessibility to more opportunities and outreach. 16 Gender1 According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), women's participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and non-STEM has increased. Yet, women remain underrepresented in STEM roles, comprising only 28.2% of STEM compared to 47.3% in non-stem sectors, as AI is increasingly used in businesses. Data shows that female talent in AI has doubled since 2016 — gender parity in the AI industry, education, professional services, manufacturing, technology and media have increased. According to Coursera, gender parity is the highest in collaboration and leadership skills, teaching and mentoring, empathy and active listening, leadership and social influence. Still, it is lower in AI and big data. As men and women enter the workforce after graduation, their skill sets are still shaped and valued differently. In conclusion, the scale and speed of progress are deeply insufficient to reach gender parity by 2030. The global community must recognise and accept that gender parity is difficult. All stakeholders, governments, businesses, academia and civic societies — must collectively participate and collaborate for broader engagement and strive to bring incremental change to accelerate progress towards gender equality in all sectors worldwide. Striving for gender parity has longer-lasting implications in a highly competitive and dynamic business environment and is a cogent thought that must be ingrained in every human mind. The world must raise the required resources and adopt economic policies to bridge the gender gap. It is only possible when there is a fundamental change in mindset to recognise gender parity as a driver of high-quality growth. The world must elevate to a condition of equitable and sustainable development, where we can make 50/50 a reality in the new paradigm of thinking. Gender equality leads to stronger, more resilient economies by promoting economic growth and labour productivity. It would be a sustainable and crucial step in working towards a society that considers an individual based on merit, not gender.
South China Morning Post
07-03-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Having more women on boards makes business sense. Hong Kong gets it
Over the past few decades, there has been significant progress in gender equality globally, with more women holding parliamentary seats, fewer women living in extreme poverty and more legal reforms enacted to close the gender gap. Advertisement But, despite the progress in some areas, the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Index predicts it will take the world 134 years to reach gender parity . Clearly, there is still much work to be done. At the same time, we are seeing some markets and companies in parts of the world that had led the way in gender representation seeming to stall or even push back on their diversity commitments. But while global politics are constantly shifting, gender diversity will always make good business sense. And that is the story we are seeing emerge in Hong Kong, as we celebrate International Women's Day this year. Taking capital markets as an example, Hong Kong started this year with an overwhelmingly positive response to a ban on single-gender boards, with almost total compliance by the city's more than 2,600 listed companies. It may seem like a small requirement: just one woman per board. However, we believe this small catalyst will set the right conditions for companies in Hong Kong to experience the benefits of gender diversity first-hand. This will start them on a diversity journey , creating more directorship opportunities for women. And from the boardrooms, gender diversity will permeate the organisation and become a workplace norm. Advertisement Most importantly, these diversity journeys, though spurred by the ban, must be pursued by the companies themselves, which we believe will lead to a more sustainable and enduring, market-generated change.
Annahar
17-02-2025
- Business
- Annahar
Gender Equality in Tech: Driving Innovation for All
Gender inequality is still a significant concern in the fast-evolving fields of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Technology. While more women are entering STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) careers, they still represent only 22% of AI professionals worldwide. Lebanon ranked 132nd globally and 8th in the region on the 2023 Global Gender Gap Index, with a score of 0.628, down from 0.644 in 2022. However, circumstances are changing in Lebanon, where men play significant roles in empowering and supporting women in the Tech industry. (Reference) The Crucial Role of Men in Promoting Women in TechnologyMore men in Lebanon recognize the importance of gender equality in technology and have taken significant actions to support women. Christophe El-Khoury, Chief Technology Officer and Technology Advisor, highlights some of the key barriers women face in tech: "There are many barriers, some of which are Societal Constructs, Academic Orientation, and Stereotypes. These can be summarized by the general assumption that men are more capable of handling and succeeding in STEM and AI fields, which, neurologically, is an extremely inaccurate assumption."Christophe's involvement in initiatives such as the Women in Tech Roadshow underscores the growing commitment among men to address these barriers. The Roadshow, set to take place at the American University of Beirut this February, aims to empower women by showcasing their potential and helping them recognize their value and opportunities in Inclusive Environments and OpportunitiesMen in IT go above and beyond simple advocacy for women in the field. It entails efforts to foster inclusive workplaces and give women access to tools and chances for success. This kind of assistance can come in numerous forms, such as sponsorship, networking events, and mentorship programs. By getting involved in these projects, men can play an active role in removing the structural obstacles preventing women from advancing in Systemic Barriers and Stereotypes Addressing the systemic obstacles and preconceptions that encourage gender inequality is essential to supporting women in IT. Men are crucial in confronting and changing these narratives by advocating for equal practices and policies within businesses and educational institutions. Promoting an inclusive and respectful culture is imperative to creating an atmosphere where women flourish. The Path ForwardTo continue building on the progress made in supporting women in tech, several steps can be taken:Strengthening Support Networks: Women may interact, learn, and develop on important platforms made available by initiatives such as the Women in Tech Roadshow. We can further empower women by growing these networks and ensuring they are available in all areas. Advocating for Policy Change: Men in positions of power can support laws that advance pay parity, family-friendly policies, and fair hiring practices, among other measures that advance gender equality in the workplace. Encouraging Education and Training: Women in tech industries must have access to education and training. Men can help women develop the skills necessary for success by supporting initiatives that provide grants, training, and Stereotypes: Men have the power to aggressively confront and dispel myths that deter women from pursuing careers in technology. By highlighting successful female role models and women in the industry, we can alter attitudes and inspire more women to pursue careers in achieve gender equality and foster innovation, men must take crucial steps to help women in the technology industry. By actively participating in support programs, tackling systemic hurdles, and establishing inclusive environments, men may contribute to developing a more inventive and equitable tech industry. Men and women working together in Lebanon is a striking illustration of how group efforts may bring about significant change and guarantee that everyone has the chance to contribute to and profit from technological advancement.
