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What do we know about women in today's economy?

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Linzhi Phoenix
What do we know about women in today's economy?

In recent decades, millions of women have joined the workforce and have made great strides in their educational level, surpassing that of men. However, women are still paid less than men. Indeed, there are gender pay gaps in the pay distribution and within educational cohorts, occupations and sectors, sometimes severe. Closing the pay gap is critical to helping women achieve economic security.

 

At the same time, the factors that have prevented women's wages from increasing over the past 12 years are the same forces that have suppressed the wages of male workers. While a growing and increasingly productive economy creates the potential for widely shared prosperity, the economic gains in recent decades have been realized almost exclusively by the highest. This is because deliberate political decisions made on behalf of those with the most wealth and power has made it difficult for workers to get the wages they deserve. This fundamental change in the way the economy works affects the majority of workers, regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity or educational level.

 

A progressive women economy agenda should close the gender pay gap and raise wages to improve living standards for all workers. The political agenda will give low- and middle-wage workers greater economic clout, change the rules so that a growing economy benefits working Americans, and maximize women's economic security. Because low-wage jobs are disproportionately held by women, women are the main beneficiaries of an agenda to increase the wages of low- and middle-wage workers.

 

Benefits of economic empowerment

Women's economic empowerment is critical to achieving women's rights and gender equality. Women's economic empowerment includes the ability of women to participate equally in existing markets; their access and control over the means of production, access to decent work, control over their own time, life and body; and greater voice, freedom of choice, and meaningful participation in economic decision-making at all levels, from the home to international institutions.

 

 

Empowering women in the economy and closing the gender gap in the world of work is key to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular Goal 5, achieve gender equality, and the Goal 5 8, promote full and productive employment and decent work for all; also Doel 1 on poverty eradication, Doel 2 on food security, Doel 3 on safeguarding health and Doel 10 on reducing inequalities.

When more women work, economies grow. Women's economic empowerment increases productivity, increases economic diversification and income equality, among other positive development outcomes.

 

 

Raising the level of education for women and girls contributes to women's economic empowerment and more inclusive economic growth. Education, skills upgrading and renewal throughout the life cycle, especially to keep pace with rapid technological and digital transformations affecting employment, are critical to the health and well-being of women and girls as well as for your opportunities to generate income and participate in formal work market.

 

Women economy equality is good for business. Businesses benefit greatly from increased employment and leadership opportunities for women, possibly increasing organizational growth and efficiency. It is estimated that companies with three or more women in senior management positions score higher in all dimensions of organizational performance.

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Linzhi Phoenix
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