Women's Economic Opportunity Index - Economist Intelligence Unit

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Women’s economic opportunityA new global index and rankingNon-discrimination in employment and occupationILO Convention 111 (average score)8PolicyPractice76543210Africa(25 countries in region)Americas(19 countries in region)Asia(33 countries in region)Europe(34 countries in region)Oceania(2 countries in region)Source: Creation of a coding and scoring scheme by the Economist Intelligence Unit based on International Labour Organisation documents.Geographical regions created by the United Nations Statistics Division.Due to data limitations the model does not cover every country in the world. As a result, country coverage within each region is not alwayscomplete. Expanded country coverage is expected in future editions of the model.the Degree of de facto discrimination against women indicator, which is a survey response taken fromthe World Economic Forum. It asks if businesses provide women the same opportunities as men to rise topositions of leadership.The Index also captures explicit forms of discrimination in the labour market, such as legal restrictionson women working in certain sectors. Although many of these limitations were originally envisaged associal protections, such legislation has a negative impact on a woman’s equality of opportunity, reducingthe range of available options. In addition, some of these restrictions, which aim to protect maternalhealth, could have adverse effects on men’s health as well. About 60 countries in the Index have at leastone legal restriction on the types of jobs that women can fill, and these apply even when they are notpregnant or nursing. According to the Index, Colombia, France, Morocco, Sudan and Vietnam have thehighest number of restrictions, at four each.In Lebanon, for example, women cannot be employed in sectors involving metal work, alcoholproduction, tanning, butchering and mining. Thailand prohibits women from work that entails drivingor operating a vehicle, using vibrating machinery and engines, and working on a boat, among otherlimitations. In Morocco, women cannot hold posts in certain ministries (the Ministries of Interior, CivilProtection, National Defence and National Security).Some countries have also legislated a differentiated retirement age for men and women (that is,the statutory pensionable age may be different for men and women). In some countries, it is necessary(mandatory) to retire at the statutory pensionable age. Differentiated retirement ages are sometimesconceived as a social protection for women. But if there is a difference in retirement ages between the two15© Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2010
Women’s economic opportunityA new global index and rankingRestrictions on job types for women who are not pregnant or nursing(% of total restrictions)Restrictions on the lifting of heavy weights, arduous work or labour beyond a woman’s strengthRestrictions on work with hazardous materials (chemicals, lead gases etc.)Restrictions on work that threatens a women’s future maternity/reproductive functionsRestrictions on work that threatens women’s general mental and physical health(dangerous, harmful or injurious work)Restrictions on work that is against women’s moralsRestrictions on manual work in mines, quarries, underground or in waterRestrictions on operating or utilising certain machineryThere are no explicit restrictions on women in the labour code,but the possibility of a restriction is implied334232112455Source: Creation of a coding and scoring scheme by the Economist IntelligenceUnit based on documents from the International Labour Organisation and theWorld Bank Group's Women, Business and the Law Database.sexes, women’s economic opportunities may be affected. This is especially so because women have longerlife expectancy than men but typically have lower retirement savings and/or pensions due to lower lifetimeearnings. This is the result of both lower wages and fewer years in the labour market—women often taketime off to look after children. A shorter career may also make it less attractive for women to invest inprofessional education, or for employers to provide on-the-job training. This may reduce opportunities forpromotion to more senior positions—as will the shorter time spent in employment—further exacerbatingthe “glass ceiling” effect. According to the Index, 51 economies recommend different retirement ages forwomen and men, and 13 actually make it mandatory to retire at a specific age.Inequality in labour opportunities and outcomes can occur because a disproportionate share ofunpaid work falls on women. Social protection schemes, such as the provision of maternity leave andbenefits, in addition to access to childcare, help to mitigate this. The design of maternity leave andbenefits coverage schemes is a complex issue, as it affects both women’s employment outcomes andchildren’s cognitive development. Only two countries in the Index do not have legislation mandatingmaternity leave benefits—the US and Australia. (On May 12th 2009 the Australian government committedDifference between the statutory (pensionable) retirement age between men and women(% of countries)Africa (25 countries)Americas (19 countries)Asia (33 countries)Europe (34 countries)Oceania (2 countries)No difference Difference of up to 3 years Difference of 3 or more years88 4 853 5 4239 6 5244 9 4750 50Source: International Labour Organisation; Social Security Online.Geographical regions created by the United Nations Statistics Division.Due to data limitations the model does not cover every country in the world. As a result, country coverage withineach region is not always complete. Expanded country coverage is expected in future editions of the model.0 20 40 60 80 10016© Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2010
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Appendix IWomen’s economic opport
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Appendix IISources and definitionsW
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Appendix IIIPrincipal componentsana
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Cover image: Russ StreetWhilst ever
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Women's Economic Opportunity Index - Economist Intelligence Unit

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