Based on this trajectory, we’ll have to wait 81 years for gender parity in the workplace
Geneva, Switzerland, 28 October 2014 – In nine years of measuring the global gender gap, the world has seen only a small improvement in equality for women in the workplace. According to theGlobal Gender Gap Report 2014, launched today, the gender gap for economic participation and opportunity now stands at 60% worldwide, having closed by 4% from 56% in 2006 when the Forum first started measuring it. Based on this trajectory, with all else remaining equal, it will take 81 years for the world to close this gap completely.
The ninth edition of the report finds that, among the 142 countries measured, the gender gap is narrowest in terms of health and survival. This gap stands at 96% globally, with 35 countries having closed the gap entirely. This includes three countries that have closed the gap in the past 12 months. The educational attainment gap is the next narrowest, standing at 94% globally. Here, 25 countries have closed the gap entirely. While the gender gap for economic participation and opportunity lags stubbornly behind, the gap for political empowerment, the fourth pillar measured, remains wider still, standing at just 21%, although this area has seen the most improvement since 2006.
With no one country having closed its overall gender gap, Nordic nations remain the most gender-equal societies in the world. Last year’s leading four nations – Iceland (1), Finland (2), Norway (3) and Sweden (4) – are joined by Denmark, which climbs from eighth place to fifth.
Ukraine ranks 56th among the 142 countries and demonstrates high rates of education and economic opportunities for women, but very low levels of political participation, therefore, the report stresses the need to develop mechanisms for the involvement of women in social and political activities.
More information on the report can be found here: http://reports.weforum.org/global-gender-gap-report-2014/
