Women in the Workplace

1. Women in the Workplace
A breakdown of maternity benefits, labor
force participation rates & the wage gap
around the world.
Nicole Varela

2. Estonia
Finland
Slovak Republic
Hungary
Bulgaria
Czech Republic
Latvia
Norway
Lithuania
Korea
Romania
Sweden
Austria
Germany
Japan
Croatia
OECD Average
Slovenia
Poland
Canada
Denmark
Italy
France
Greece
Luxembourg
United Kingdom
Belgium
Portugal
Chile
Iceland
Ireland
Australia
Malta
Spain
Cyprus
Netherlands
New Zealand
Turkey
Israel
Switzerland
Mexico
United States
0 40 80 120 160
Total Paid Leave (Weeks)
0
Government Sponsored Parental Leave
Source: OECD Family Database http://www.oecd.org/els/family/database.htm
The United States is the only OECD nation with no government sponsored
paid parental leave of any type. The average OECD country has a total of
55 paid weeks of total child rearing related leave, with about 18 weeks of
materinity specific leave.
Type of Entitlement
Parental Leave
Maternity Leave
Father Specific Leave

3. 30
40
50
60
70
$0 $10,000 $20,000 $30,000
Public Expenditure on Maternity Entitlements Per Child (USD)
LaborForceParticipation(%)
Source: OECD Family Database http://www.oecd.org/els/family/database.htm
More Government Aid Does Not Mean Higher
Female Labor Participation
Region
Americas
Asia
Europe
Oceania
Countries with higher government spending on maternity entitlements do not necessarily show higher levels of
female labor force participation. Most notable are the large differences in labor force participation between
countries with relatively little to no government spending.

4. Female Labor Force Participation Rates
10% 30% 50% 70% 90%
Source: World Development Indicators http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.EMP.INSV.FE.ZS
Altogether, 50.2% of all eligible women aged 15+ participate in the world labor
force. The Middle East and North Africa have the lowest regional participation rate,
with only 21.7% participation. Low levels have historically been attributed to the
Muslim influence of gender norms and religious laws prohibiting the employment of
women. By contrast, the United States is at 56.3% women’s participation.
Percent of Female Population (Age 15+) In The Labor Force

5. 45
50
55
60
1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Year
FemaleLaborForceParticipationRate(%)
Region
Africa
Americas
Asia
Europe
Oceania
World
Source: World Development Indicators http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.EMP.INSV.FE.ZS
Rising Female Participation Rates Throughout
the World
With the exception of Oceania, all regions have experienced consistent growth in
female labor force participation since in the 1990’s.

6. 25%
50%
75%
Africa Americas Asia Europe Oceania
World Reigon
FemaleLaborForceParticipationRate(%)
Source: World Development Indicators http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.EMP.INSV.FE.ZS
Regional Breakdown of Labor Force
Participation Rates
While all regions have relatively similar average participation rates, Africa’s
stands out as substaintially higher, due in part to the large rates found in the
Sub-Saharan region. Also notable are the vast differences between countries
within the Asian and African regions while Europe and the Americas have very
similar distributions, converging on a developed world standard.

7. Less than High School
High School Graduates
Associate Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Advanced Degree
Total Participation
Women Men Total
EducationalAttainment
Source: Bureau of Labor 2016 Current Population Survey https://www.bls.gov/cps/tables.htm#annual
Participation
Rate
Female Participation Rates Increasing
with Educational Level
45.758.133.3
57.567.647.5
70.476.5
73.779.368.5
74.877.672.1
62.869.256.8
65.6
40
50
60
70
At every education level less women participate in the US workface
than men. However, female participation converges with mens with
increasing educational attainment.

8. United States 83¢
South Korea 63¢ Belgium 93¢
Japan 74¢ United Kingdom 83¢
Source: OECD Employment Database http://www.oecd.org/employment/emp/onlineoecdemploymentdatabase.htm
Wage Gaps Throughout
the World
For equal work, women earn less in every
OECD country than their male counterpart.
On average, women make 85 cents to every
man’s dollar.
Cents earned by women
One man’s dollar

9. The Weekly Gender Gap
Source: Bureau of Labor, 2015 Current Population Survey https://www.bls.gov/cps/tables.htm#annual
Men consistently earn more than women in almost every
industry, with larger gaps occuring in higher paying
occupations.
Average Weekly Salary
Personal Financial Advisors
Securities, Commodities, & Financial Services Sales Agents
Financial Managers
Physical Scientists
Financial Analysts
Administrative Services Managers
Advertising Sales Agents
Chief Executives
Physicians & Surgeons
Accountants & Auditors
Compliance Officers
Management Occupations
General & Operations Managers
Marketing & Sales Managers
Software Developers
Education Administrators
Real Estate Brokers
Property & Real Estate Managers
Insurance Sales Agents
Claims Adjusters, Appraisers & Examiners
Pharmacists
Clinical Laboratory Technologists & Technicians
Medical Scientists
Lodging Managers
Medical & Health Services Managers
Production Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, & Samplers
Postsecondary Teachers
Computer & Information Systems Managers
Operations Research Analysts
Computer Support Specialists
Human Resources Managers
Production Occupations
Web Developers
Computer Systems Analysts
Retail Salespersons
Computer programmers
Diagnostic Technologists & Technicians
Lawyers
Architecture & Engineering
Designers
Purchasing Managers
Human Resources Workers
Market Research Analysts & Marketing Specialists
Management Analysts
Postal Service Workers
Head Chefs
Recreation & Fitness Workers
Engineering technicians
Secondary School Teachers
Food Service Managers
Physical Therapists
Housekeeping & Janitorial Workers
Registered Nurses
Elementary & Middle School Teachers
Butchers
Truck Drivers
Janitors & Building Cleaners
Bus Drivers
Producers & Directors
Dispatchers
Administrative Assistants
Building & Maintenance Workers
Clergy
Metal Workers
Personal Care Aides
Bakers
Bailiffs & Correctional Officers
Production Assembly Line Workers
Waiters & Waitresses
Engineers
Insurance Claims Clerks
Customer Service Representatives
Installation, Maintenance, & Repair occupations
Social Workers
Editors
Security Guards
Bartenders
Nursing, Psychiatric, & Home Health Aides
Maids & Housekeeping Workers
Cashiers
Agricultural Workers
Receptionists
Construction Occupations
Farming, Fishing, & Forestry occupations
Purchasing Agents
Stock Clerks
Cooks
Laundry & Dry−Cleaning Workers
Bill & Account Collectors
Food Preparation Workers
Electrical Assemblers
Health Support Technologists & Technicians
Hospitality Staff
Counselors
Bookkeeping, Accounting, & Auditing Clerks
Police Officers
Office Clerks
Data Entry Keyers
Wholesale & Retail Buyers
$500 $1,000 $1,500 $2,000
$500 $1,000 $1,500 $2,000
Women Men