Gender gap and what employers should know

The world is rapidly changing, erasing artificial barriers and opening up new horizons for self-realization. However, gender stereotypes, like ghosts from the past, continue to influence our present. Why is “female” work offered lower pay, while “male” professions are considered more prestigious? Can a delicate woman, without any prejudices, become a successful builder, and a man – a nursery teacher? Unfortunately, these questions still provoke debates.

For a better understanding of the gender gap in the Ukrainian labor market and to determine prospects for change, we spoke with Olena Kutsokon, Head of Recruitment at Smart Solutions.

Overall assessment of the level of gender gap in the modern Ukrainian labor market The gender gap is not just a matter of equal rights; it is a factor that hinders the progress of an entire country. It negatively affects representatives of both genders, but women feel it much more acutely, as they have faced systemic discrimination for many years. Here are just a few main manifestations:

• Unequal pay. Despite the fact that 49.8% of Ukrainian women have higher education, compared to 38.3% of men, they still receive significantly lower wages. The Ministry of Economy of Ukraine provides data indicating that the gender pay gap reaches 18.6%.
• Glass ceiling. Research by Deloitte shows that only 18.4% of women are on the boards of companies, let alone leading them. This indicates systemic inequality in access to leadership positions and career advancement. Additionally, women have a rather limited choice of career development fields, among which beauty and health, education, and consumer services prevail.
• Limited career opportunities. Due to responsibilities for childcare and household duties, many women do not have the same freedom of job choice and employment opportunities as men. This forces them to work part-time more often, which negatively affects career prospects and financial independence.

“Although we increasingly see examples of women managing factories, inventing computer programs, conducting multimillion-dollar deals, delivering church sermons, directing films, and piloting planes, unfortunately, no country in the world has yet achieved full gender equality. According to The Global Gender Gap Index, global pay parity may only be achieved by 2277. Therefore, there is still a lot of work ahead for all of us,” – notes Olena Kutsokon.

About ensuring gender equality, the benefits of a balanced team, and the challenges for Ukrainian employers, read on the pages of womo.ua publication.