Southeast Asian Men and Women in Professional and Technical Fields are Near Parity

The ratio of professional and technical workers between women and men is one of the parameters used by the World Economic Forum (WEF) to compile the gender gap index. The ratio is calculated from data held by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The professional and technical jobs in question encompass work involving multiple disciplines, the application of scientific concepts and theories, and jobs requiring a high level of technical skill.

This ratio of female to male workers reflects the state of equality, particularly in terms of economic opportunity and participation. Generally, these jobs are rewarded with high wages, thus contributing to the national economy.

According to data compiled and processed by the WEF in 2017, globally, the ratio was 0.758. 80% of Southeast Asian countries had achieved gender equality in professional and technical employment.

At least 8 out of 10 Southeast Asian countries scored above the global average, and 4 out of 10 had achieved perfect equality (scoring 1). These four countries are Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Indonesia scored 0.968, ranking 70th globally. This is despite achieving a perfect score (=1/equal) in 2016.

Education is a key determinant in obtaining higher-quality jobs, such as professional and technical roles. Companies can also contribute to increasing the number of professional and technical workers, for example, by providing training to improve competence and productivity.

*This article was produced in partnership with Investing in Women, an initiative of the Australian Government that promotes women’s economic empowerment in Southeast Asia.*