Men Dominate the Industrial Work Sector

According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), the employment sector is divided into three: agriculture (covering work in farming, plantations, forestry, and fisheries); industry (mining, public utilities, manufacturing, and construction); and services (retail trade, hotels, finance, business, community and social services).

The percentage of workers per gender in these employment sectors is one of the World Development Indicators (WDI). This is because, according to WDI studies, greater gender equality in rights and opportunities impacts overall national progress.

Globally, ILO data shows that women are most prevalent in the service sector. Besides the service sector, a higher percentage of female than male workers is found in the agricultural sector. This pattern is common in many countries, including Indonesia.

A matter of concern is the industrial sector, which remains predominantly male. Yet, this sector is rapidly developing towards Industry 4.0, an opportunity to address the gender gap in the workforce composition.

To increase women's participation in the industrial sector, STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) education is considered a solution. These efforts should begin in schools, for example, by motivating female students to pursue STEM fields and showcasing female role models in STEM.

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