simel esim, regional gender specialist, arab states, ilo gender equality and youth employment:...
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Simel Esim, Regional Gender Specialist, Arab States, ILO
Gender Equality and Youth Gender Equality and Youth Employment:Employment:
Reflections on Arab StatesReflections on Arab States
UNDP/UNDESA Sub-Regional WorkshopUNDP/UNDESA Sub-Regional WorkshopYouth Policies and Strategies in the Context of Youth Policies and Strategies in the Context of
MDGsMDGs
Sana’a, Yemen, June 22-23, 2005Sana’a, Yemen, June 22-23, 2005
Simel Esim, Regional Gender Specialist, Arab States, ILO
OutlineOutline
Gender Equality, MDGs and YouthGender Equality, MDGs and Youth Global and Regional TrendsGlobal and Regional Trends Trends and Indicators in MENATrends and Indicators in MENA Good PracticesGood Practices Next StepsNext Steps
Simel Esim, Regional Gender Specialist, Arab States, ILO
Gender equality is defined as women Gender equality is defined as women having the same opportunities in life as having the same opportunities in life as men in three domains: men in three domains:
• Capabilities (health, education, nutrition)Capabilities (health, education, nutrition)
• Access to resources and opportunitiesAccess to resources and opportunities economic assets (such as land or housing) resources (such as income and employment) Political opportunity (representation in leadership)
• SSecurity domainecurity domain (reduced vulnerability to (reduced vulnerability to violence and conflict)violence and conflict)
Defining Gender EqualityDefining Gender Equality
Simel Esim, Regional Gender Specialist, Arab States, ILO
EmpowermentEmpowerment
• Agency or the ability to use those rights, Agency or the ability to use those rights, capabilities, resources, and opportunities to capabilities, resources, and opportunities to make strategic choices and decisionsmake strategic choices and decisions
• To exercise agency, they must live without To exercise agency, they must live without the fear of coercion and violencethe fear of coercion and violence
• Especially relevant for young women Especially relevant for young women considering age and gender hierarchiesconsidering age and gender hierarchies
Simel Esim, Regional Gender Specialist, Arab States, ILO
MDG Goal 3 IndicatorsMDG Goal 3 Indicators
• The ratio of girls to boys enrolled in primary and secondary education
• The ratio of literate females to males among 15 to 24 year olds
• The share of women in wage employment in the nonagricultural sector
• The proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments
Simel Esim, Regional Gender Specialist, Arab States, ILO
Strategic Priorities for Goal 3 of MDGsStrategic Priorities for Goal 3 of MDGs1. Strengthen opportunities for post primary education for girls whilesimultaneously meeting commitments to universal primaryeducation
2. Guarantee reproductive health and rights
3. Invest in infrastructure to reduce women’s and girls’ time burdens
4. Guarantee women’s and girls’ property and inheritance rights
5. Eliminate gender inequality in employment by decreasing women’sreliance on informal employment, closing gender gaps in earnings, andreducing occupational segregation
6. Increase women’s share of seats in national parliaments and localGovernmental bodies
7. Combat violence against girls and women
Simel Esim, Regional Gender Specialist, Arab States, ILO
Proposed Indicators by Task ForceProposed Indicators by Task ForceEducation• The ratio of female to male gross enrollment rates in primary, secondary, and
tertiary education• The ratio of female to male completion rates in primary, secondary, and tertiary
educationReproductive health and rights• Proportion of contraceptive demand satisfied• Adolescent fertility rateInfrastructure• Hours per day (or year) women and men spend fetching water and collecting fuelProperty rights• Land ownership by male, female, or jointly held• Housing title, disaggregated by male, female, or jointly heldEmployment• Share of women in employment, both wage and self-employment, by type• Gender gaps in earnings in wage and self-employmentParticipation in national parliaments and local government bodies• Percentage of seats held by women in national parliament• Percentage of seats held by women in local government bodiesViolence against women• Prevalence of domestic violence
Simel Esim, Regional Gender Specialist, Arab States, ILO
Global and Regional TrendsGlobal and Regional Trends
Gender Equality Gender Equality
& &
Youth EmploymentYouth Employment
Simel Esim, Regional Gender Specialist, Arab States, ILO
Gender & Youth UnemploymentGender & Youth Unemployment Globally, 35.8 million young women (15-24) are involuntarily Globally, 35.8 million young women (15-24) are involuntarily
without workwithout work
In all regions (except EA and SSA) young women’s In all regions (except EA and SSA) young women’s unemployment rates are higher than young men’sunemployment rates are higher than young men’s
Female unemployment rate of 16.5% was 5.9% points Female unemployment rate of 16.5% was 5.9% points higher than the male rate of 10.6 % in 2003 in MENAhigher than the male rate of 10.6 % in 2003 in MENA
Unemployment for young women in MENA countries ranges Unemployment for young women in MENA countries ranges from 13% in Bahrain to almost 39% in Algeriafrom 13% in Bahrain to almost 39% in Algeria
Unemployed women are mainly young new labor force Unemployed women are mainly young new labor force entrants (with primary & secondary education), and laid off entrants (with primary & secondary education), and laid off workers following restructuring and privatization - in Jordan, workers following restructuring and privatization - in Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia and EgyptMorocco, Tunisia and Egypt
Source: ILO Global Employment Trends, 2004; ERF, 2000.
Simel Esim, Regional Gender Specialist, Arab States, ILO
Fertility & Employment LinkFertility & Employment Link Lower fertility rates & Lower fertility rates &
increased employment of increased employment of women is likely to go hand in women is likely to go hand in hand freeing their time from hand freeing their time from the care economythe care economy
In MENA, fertility rates In MENA, fertility rates remained relatively high in remained relatively high in 2000 at 3.6 % and the female 2000 at 3.6 % and the female labor force participation is the labor force participation is the lowest of all regions at 27.9 %lowest of all regions at 27.9 %
Fertility Rate (15-19 yr olds), 1990-2000
0
50
100
150
200
250
1990 2000Year
Algeria
Bahrain
Djibouti
Egypt
I ran, I slamic Rep. of
J ordan
Kuwait
Lebanon
Morocco
Oman
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Syrian Arab Republic
Tunisia
United Arab Emirates
West Bank
Yemen
Employment to Population RatioEmployment to Population Ratio• In all regions, employment to population ratios are much smaller for In all regions, employment to population ratios are much smaller for women than for menwomen than for men• The difference is highest in MENA where 2/10 working age women The difference is highest in MENA where 2/10 working age women work compared to 7/10 menwork compared to 7/10 men• Even if not all women of working age want to work, the fact that Even if not all women of working age want to work, the fact that there is female unemployment shows that there are women who there is female unemployment shows that there are women who want to work, but are unable to find work in the regionwant to work, but are unable to find work in the region
Simel Esim, Regional Gender Specialist, Arab States, ILO
Education & Employment LinkEducation & Employment Link Higher enrollment, completion rates and better quality Higher enrollment, completion rates and better quality
of education for girls and boys is likely to lead to of education for girls and boys is likely to lead to increased employabilityincreased employability
MENA countries have moved toward achieving gender MENA countries have moved toward achieving gender equality in primary and secondary education, BUT THE equality in primary and secondary education, BUT THE LINK TO JOBS IS MISSINGLINK TO JOBS IS MISSING
In the past decade MENA governments spent an In the past decade MENA governments spent an average of 5.3 % of GDP on education—the highest in average of 5.3 % of GDP on education—the highest in the world changing the supply, quality, and profile of the world changing the supply, quality, and profile of the labor force—BUT IT ONLY MARGINALLY the labor force—BUT IT ONLY MARGINALLY TRANSLATED INTO YOUNG WOMEN’S EMPLOYMENTTRANSLATED INTO YOUNG WOMEN’S EMPLOYMENT
Simel Esim, Regional Gender Specialist, Arab States, ILO
Female to Male Primary Enrolment Ratio, 2000
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
Bahr ain Dj ibouti E gypt Ir an,
Islamic
Rep. of
J or dan Kuwait Lebanon Mor occo Oman Qatar Syr ian
Ar ab
Republ ic
United
Ar ab
E mir ates
West
Bank and
Gaza
Str ipCountry
Female to Male Primary Enrollment Ratios, 2000
Female to Male Secondary Enrolment Ratio, 2000
0
1
Bahrain Djibouti Egypt Iran,
Islamic
Rep. of
J ordan Kuwait Lebanon Morocco Oman Qatar Syrian
Arab
Republic
United
Arab
Emirates
West
Bank and
Gaza
StripCountry
Female to Male Secondary Enrollment Ratios, 2000
In Egypt, educated In Egypt, educated women are more likely women are more likely to be unemployed than to be unemployed than
educated meneducated men
In Jordan, educated In Jordan, educated women, especially women, especially graduates of graduates of community community colleges face high colleges face high unemployment unemployment levelslevels
Simel Esim, Regional Gender Specialist, Arab States, ILO
Gender Segregation Across Life CycleGender Segregation Across Life Cycle
Women obtain “suitable skills” often via shorter training and informal courses compared to men
Separation in training is followed by separation in the workplace/work opportunities creating a vicious cycle
Young women and men are concentrated in different Young women and men are concentrated in different types of work and their ‘paths’ to work are different and types of work and their ‘paths’ to work are different and so likely are the impacts upon themso likely are the impacts upon them
Women who spend time outside the labor market find out that lack of training leads to low quality jobs and low paid work that, in turn, offer little additional training
Simel Esim, Regional Gender Specialist, Arab States, ILO
Experience with Young WomenExperience with Young Women Life skills training Life skills training
• Health and nutritionHealth and nutrition• Self esteem, confidence, conflict resolutionSelf esteem, confidence, conflict resolution• CV, interview, presentation skillsCV, interview, presentation skills
Vocational skills training in market niches Vocational skills training in market niches that are not low return and traditionally that are not low return and traditionally women sectorswomen sectors
Labour market linksLabour market links• Apprenticeship, job placement programsApprenticeship, job placement programs
Simel Esim, Regional Gender Specialist, Arab States, ILO
Female life expectancy 100
Reducing Fertility Rate
Ratio of girls to boys in primary and secondary education
GDP Per Capita $
Ratio of Women to Men in Non Agricultural Wage Employment
Developing regions
MENA
%Seats Held by Women in Parliament
Key Gender Equality Indicators, 2000
Simel Esim, Regional Gender Specialist, Arab States, ILO
Public and Private Sector TrendsPublic and Private Sector Trends Public sector jobs were safeguards for women in a
number of countries in the region, but with the reform and privatization processes, public sector is no longer the main option for young women out of school
Private sector jobs are open to young women, although they come with limited or no job security or benefits. Temporary contracts are common with significant implications for decent work
The main source of employment generation has shifted to the private sector and this has adversely affected opportunities for women. Attention to the equality of opportunity and treatment in employment needs to be sustained
Simel Esim, Regional Gender Specialist, Arab States, ILO
Employment distribution by sectorEmployment distribution by sector Young and adult women have a higher share of Young and adult women have a higher share of
agricultural employment in MENA. Most are in the agricultural employment in MENA. Most are in the unpaid family worker category of employmentunpaid family worker category of employment
Within services, women are still concentrated in sectors Within services, women are still concentrated in sectors that are traditionally associated with gender roles in that are traditionally associated with gender roles in community, social and personal servicescommunity, social and personal services
Women’s share in industry is low, but jobs in EPZs are Women’s share in industry is low, but jobs in EPZs are filled by young women (textiles, leather, electronics)filled by young women (textiles, leather, electronics)
Young women work in manufacturing, especially in Young women work in manufacturing, especially in Tunisia, Morocco and Jordan although there is a high Tunisia, Morocco and Jordan although there is a high incidence of non-regular and non-salaried activity in incidence of non-regular and non-salaried activity in this sector and a wide gap in earningsthis sector and a wide gap in earnings
In professional services, women are still in “women’s In professional services, women are still in “women’s jobs” as teaching, nursing where with good education jobs” as teaching, nursing where with good education and training continue to be an employment outlet for and training continue to be an employment outlet for young womenyoung women
Simel Esim, Regional Gender Specialist, Arab States, ILO
Reasons for Gender Inequality Reasons for Gender Inequality & Youth Employment Trends in & Youth Employment Trends in
MENAMENA
Simel Esim, Regional Gender Specialist, Arab States, ILO
Socio-Cultural ConstraintsSocio-Cultural Constraints Young women have more limited access to labor market relevant Young women have more limited access to labor market relevant
capabilities (skills, knowledge, self-esteem, confidence) Across the life cycle women have more limited access to productive Across the life cycle women have more limited access to productive
resources (land, capital, livestock) compared to their male resources (land, capital, livestock) compared to their male counterpartscounterparts
There is a male-bread winner bias in the labor market despite the There is a male-bread winner bias in the labor market despite the pressing economic realities in poor households which require more pressing economic realities in poor households which require more than one incomethan one income
There are continued mobility constraints on young women and women There are continued mobility constraints on young women and women in general in many communities in the region (some due to security in general in many communities in the region (some due to security concerns in countries facing conflict like Iraq and Palestine) concerns in countries facing conflict like Iraq and Palestine)
Young women face employer and lender biases and are Young women face employer and lender biases and are overrepresented among unpaid family workers, part time, low wage overrepresented among unpaid family workers, part time, low wage earners, unemployed & inactiveearners, unemployed & inactive
Early marriage and child bearing and rearing can also inhibit young Early marriage and child bearing and rearing can also inhibit young women’s integration into labor marketwomen’s integration into labor market
Simel Esim, Regional Gender Specialist, Arab States, ILO
Market Failures Affecting Young WomenMarket Failures Affecting Young Women
Employers may be unwilling to incur the “perceived” Employers may be unwilling to incur the “perceived” transaction costs and risks in hiring young womentransaction costs and risks in hiring young women
““Perceptions” hold considering the high levels of male Perceptions” hold considering the high levels of male unemployment and expectations of male bread winner unemployment and expectations of male bread winner despite the changing economic and social realitiesdespite the changing economic and social realities
Formal credit markets often exclude women who are Formal credit markets often exclude women who are less likely than men to own land and other collateralless likely than men to own land and other collateral
Because of the uncertainty associated with lending to Because of the uncertainty associated with lending to beginners and informational asymmetries (between beginners and informational asymmetries (between older/younger workers and between women/men) older/younger workers and between women/men) formal credit markets are not responsive to young formal credit markets are not responsive to young people and especially young women people and especially young women
Being based in small towns, rural area markets makes Being based in small towns, rural area markets makes it hard to start a business or search for and travel to it hard to start a business or search for and travel to work or to expand output and sales due to poor work or to expand output and sales due to poor infrastructure, lack of information and market thinness infrastructure, lack of information and market thinness
Simel Esim, Regional Gender Specialist, Arab States, ILO
Good PracticesGood Practices
Ensuring Gender Equality in Ensuring Gender Equality in Youth Employment in MENAYouth Employment in MENA
Simel Esim, Regional Gender Specialist, Arab States, ILO
School to Work Transition SurveysSchool to Work Transition SurveysJORDANJORDAN
Conducted through ILO GENPROM in a number of countries Conducted through ILO GENPROM in a number of countries including Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Jordan including Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Jordan
Female and male interviewees from five target groups: in-school Female and male interviewees from five target groups: in-school youth, job seekers, young employees, young self-employed and youth, job seekers, young employees, young self-employed and own-account workers & employers & managers of young people own-account workers & employers & managers of young people
Determines how well the education/training system prepares Determines how well the education/training system prepares young people for the labor market, their perceptions and young people for the labor market, their perceptions and aspirations for entering the labor market, how they actually aspirations for entering the labor market, how they actually conduct the job search, the influence of the family in choice of conduct the job search, the influence of the family in choice of occupations, whether they prefer wage or self employment, the occupations, whether they prefer wage or self employment, the barriers to and supports for entry into the labor market, attitudes barriers to and supports for entry into the labor market, attitudes of employers towards hiring young workers, how young people of employers towards hiring young workers, how young people view work, marriage and family responsibilitiesview work, marriage and family responsibilities
Gender differentials - especially why it is harder for young women Gender differentials - especially why it is harder for young women than for young men to make the transition from school to work than for young men to make the transition from school to work
Simel Esim, Regional Gender Specialist, Arab States, ILO
IT Training: Partnership with IT Training: Partnership with Corporate SectorCorporate Sector
UNIFEM, Cisco Systems, Government of Jordan, YMCA, UNIFEM, Cisco Systems, Government of Jordan, YMCA, UNRWA and UNDP UNRWA and UNDP
Training to bridge gender gap in IT sectorTraining to bridge gender gap in IT sector Over 200 young women underwent a two-month training Over 200 young women underwent a two-month training
in IT skillsin IT skills Training designed to help female students build Training designed to help female students build
technological knowledge & improve competitiveness in technological knowledge & improve competitiveness in the labor market the labor market
A job-placement program helps students put their skills to A job-placement program helps students put their skills to use use
Tracking of graduates to evaluate the benefits of the Tracking of graduates to evaluate the benefits of the trainingtraining
Simel Esim, Regional Gender Specialist, Arab States, ILO
Next StepsNext Steps
Gender Equality and Youth Gender Equality and Youth Employment in MENAEmployment in MENA
Simel Esim, Regional Gender Specialist, Arab States, ILO
Life Cycle ApproachLife Cycle Approach
Youth is a challenging stage because individuals are Youth is a challenging stage because individuals are increasingly expanding their roles and responsibilities increasingly expanding their roles and responsibilities without the protections often provided other groupswithout the protections often provided other groups
Decisions and investments in youth have implications Decisions and investments in youth have implications for labor market in the later stages of life and market for labor market in the later stages of life and market relevant skills need to be a part of a life long learningrelevant skills need to be a part of a life long learning
Life long learning is important for women and men, but Life long learning is important for women and men, but women’s participation in the care economy mean that women’s participation in the care economy mean that their skills can be interrupted and therefore outdatedtheir skills can be interrupted and therefore outdated
Simel Esim, Regional Gender Specialist, Arab States, ILO
Policy responsesPolicy responses Improving availability & quality of sex-disaggregated data on labor Improving availability & quality of sex-disaggregated data on labor
markets including women’s informal employment & gender markets including women’s informal employment & gender earnings gapsearnings gaps
Gender responsive laws and policy approaches in Gender responsive laws and policy approaches in • Job creation, finance, micro-finance, safety netsJob creation, finance, micro-finance, safety nets• Quality vocational training programsQuality vocational training programs• Infrastructure and urbanInfrastructure and urban• Rural development/agricultureRural development/agriculture• Labor codesLabor codes• Public sector budgetingPublic sector budgeting• National policy frameworks (PRSPs & Youth Employment Action Plans)National policy frameworks (PRSPs & Youth Employment Action Plans)
Investing in young women by prioritizing theirInvesting in young women by prioritizing their• Secondary educationSecondary education• Transition from education to work through labour marketTransition from education to work through labour market• Quality and labor market relevant trainingQuality and labor market relevant training• Physical safetyPhysical safety
Developing positive role models of young women’s work to Developing positive role models of young women’s work to address attitudes & percetions through media, schools, and address attitudes & percetions through media, schools, and communitiescommunities
Simel Esim, Regional Gender Specialist, Arab States, ILO
For more information and a For more information and a copy of this presentation copy of this presentation
please contact:please contact:
Simel Esim, Ph.D.Simel Esim, Ph.D.Regional Gender AdvisorRegional Gender Advisor
ILO Regional Office—Arab StatesILO Regional Office—Arab [email protected]@ilo.org
Simel Esim, Regional Gender Specialist, Arab States, ILO
THANK YOU!THANK YOU!