Women in the workforce: An unmet potential in Asia and the Pacific
The average labor force participation rate of women around the globe has remained stubbornly constant over the last 25 years at just over 50% of the economically active female population. These trends persist even in economies in Asia and the Pacific where the female labor force participation rate in 2014 was a high 53%—roughly the same as the developing member country average, which in itself is a rate that masks significant variations across countries. This special report looks into the complex and varied causes behind this gap in economic empowerment between males and females across Asia and the Pacific, then analyzes the available evidence for its implications to economic growth. It argues, among other things, that although the acquisition of human capital may give women the opportunity to enter the workforce, there are not always good incentives for them to pursue a skilled job in some countries in Asia; though, sector-specific skills and vocational training enable individuals of all genders to access new opportunities and transfer to a new occupation.