Women are significantly underrepresented in paid work and experience a substantial gender pay gap, earning $258 for every $100 earned by men. However, research suggests that women graduating from university in developed markets by 2020 could potentially close this gap by 2044 if they make strategic choices and gain digital skills. To achieve this, collaboration among businesses, governments, and academia is essential, emphasizing the importance of aiming high and adopting technology.

2. GLOBALLY, WOMEN ARE MUCH
LESS LIKELY THAN MEN TO HAVE
PAID WORK…
...WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO A HIDDEN
PAY GAP: FOR EVERY $100 A WOMAN
EARNS, A MAN EARNS $258
SOURCE: ILO WOMEN AT WORK, TRENDS 2016 SOURCE: GETTING TO EQUAL 2017, ACCENTURE

3. New Accenture research finds that
women graduating from university in
developed markets in 2020 could be the
first generation to close the gender pay
gap in their professional lifetimes.

4. If women make strategic choices, gain more digital skills, and are supported by businesses,
governments and academia…the pay gap could close by 2044 in developed markets, 36 years
sooner than estimated, and by 2066 in developing markets, more than 100 years faster.
SOURCE: GETTING TO EQUAL 2017, ACCENTURE

5. FEMALE UNDERGRADS ARE LESS LIKELY
THAN THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS TO…
SEVERAL CRITICAL FACTORS
AFFECT
Choose an area of
study that offers high
earning potential
Have a mentor Aspire to leadership
positions
Adopt new
technologies quickly
Take coding and
computing courses
SOURCE: GETTING TO EQUAL 2017, ACCENTURE

6. DIGITAL
FLUENCY
The extent to which
people use digital
technologies to
connect, learn, work
CAREER
STRATEGY
The need for women
to aim high, make informed
choices and proactively
manage their careers
TECH
IMMERSION
The opportunity for
women to acquire greater
technology and stronger
digital skills to advance
as quickly as men
THREE POWERFUL
EQUALIZERS TO HELP
WOMEN CLOSE THE GAP

7. SOURCE: GETTING TO EQUAL 2017, ACCENTURE

8. SOURCE: GETTING TO EQUAL 2017, ACCENTURE

9. SOURCE: GETTING TO EQUAL 2017, ACCENTURE

10. THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF COMBINING
THESE THREE EQUALIZERS IS PROFOUND:
SOURCE: GETTING TO EQUAL 2017, ACCENTURE

11. “The future workforce must be an equal
workforce. The gender pay gap is an economic
and competitive imperative that matters to
everyone, and we must all take action to
create significant opportunities for women and
close the gap more quickly.”
JULIE SWEET
Chief Executive Officer—North America, Accenture

12. THE PAY GAP
HAS REMAINED
AN INTRACTABLE
PROBLEM FOR
TOO LONG.
BUSINESS,
GOVERNMENT
AND ACADEMIA
ALL HAVE A ROLE
TO PLAY.
TOGETHER WITH
THE CLASS OF
2020, WE MUST
SEIZE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO
GET TO EQUAL,
FASTER.

13. Accenture surveyed more than 28,000 women and men,
including undergraduates, in 29 countries. The sample included
equal representation of men and women, representing three
generations (Millennials, Gen X and Baby Boomers) across all
workforce levels at companies of varying size.
#GETTINGTOEQUAL
www.accenture.com/gettingtoequal
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