Moving backwards
Although much attention has been given to gender parity in recent years, research shows that, overall, we are actually moving backwards. Mercer’s When Women Thrive, Businesses Thrive Research finds that organizations globally will not achieve gender equality by 2025, with inequality even growing in some industries.
Recent finds from the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2016 conclude that, at the current rate of change, the economic gender gap will not close for another 170 years – 52 years longer than projected in the Forum’s 2015 report.
Persistent imbalances
This backsliding reflects several persistent imbalances: a global female labour force participation rate of 54%, compared with 81% more for men; and a persistently small number of women in senior positions, with only four countries having equal numbers of male and female legislators, senior officials and managers.
Disruption ahead
But the coming disruption of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which will transform labour markets and significantly displace jobs, is creating new urgency around realising women’s full economic potential.
Coinciding with major demographic shifts, the disruption underway will have a profound impact on organisations, their people and the communities in which they operate.
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