DEMOGRAPHICS
Gallup Poll Reveals Best, Worse Gender Gaps for Working Women — PICTURES
Updated: July 26, 2012 | 9:06 a.m.
July 24, 2012 | 12:05 p.m.
Women in 26 percent of the world's countries are less likely than men to be employed at capacity, according to July data released by Gallup. In this instance, "at capacity" refers to people in the workforce working full-time or part-time for an employer, but not seeking full-time work.
Gallup found gender gaps up to more than 20 percentage points for some countries, while other countries had more women working at capacity than men.
According to Gallup, the Employed at Capacity for an Employer Index has strong correlations to the gross domestic product, household income, and well-being. It is not comparing data to the total population, but rather to able adults who are working, or available and looking for work.
Countries that are most likely to have women working at capacity for employers include Kuwait, Singapore, and Sweden. Countries least likely include Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, and Guinea. The likelihood of having women working at capacity often correlated to the overall job climate for the country for both men and women.
Don't keep your hopes up for the U.S., however. The States boast just a -9 index, with 61 percent of women working full-time or part-time (and not wanting work), compared to 70 percent of men.
"Women clearly need better employment opportunities. Social norms in individual countries may explain many of the gender gaps in employment. However, policies in individual countries that encourage decent job opportunities for everyone and encourage women to pursue higher education may help level the playing field," Jenny Marlar and Kyley McGeeney wrote for Gallup.
Below, we've compiled a slideshow of the lowest and highest gender gaps in the workplace. Higher negative numbers indicate wider gender gaps; higher positive numbers indicate the reverse.
Ecuador, -23 Overlooking downtown Quito, the capital city of Ecuador. The South American country has one of the highest gender gaps: 59 percent of women are working at capacity, while 82 percent of men are.
PHOTO: Flickr/soficordovavega
Saudi Arabia, -23 The Middle Eastern country has 56 percent of its women working at capacity, compared with 79 percent of men. Pictured above are worshipers at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, during Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Hassan Ammar
Bolivia, -22 Just 30 percent of women in Bolivia are working at capacity, compared to 52 percent of men. Here, the skyline of La Paz, Bolivia, is featured.
PHOTO: Flickr/arthur_chapman
Honduras, -19 The Central American country has 30 percent of its women working, compared with 49 percent of men. Here, a street view in Tegucigalpa, the capital city.
PHOTO: Flickr/chamoestudio
Bahrain, -19 This island country near the Persian Gulf rounds up the 5 largest gender gaps around the world. About 61 percent of its women are employed at capacity, versus 80 percent of men. Here, the country's well-known World Trade Center.
PHOTO: Flickr/Cajie
Lebanon, +9 The Middle Eastern country boasts a gender gap that leans in favor of women: 51 percent of women work at capacity compared with 42 percent of men. Featured here is the country's parliament building.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Hussein Malla
Serbia, +11 Serbia has 62 percent of its women working at capacity, compared to 51 percent of men. Pictured above is the National Assembly of Serbia.
PHOTO: Flickr/archer10
Finland, +12 Finland boasts a full 80 percent of its women working at capacity and 68 percent of its men. Here, people stand in front of the cathedral in Helsinki.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Martin Meissner
Mongolia, +13 More women in Mongolia are employed, but the job climate overall is bleak: 55 percent of women are employed compared with 42 percent of men. Here, women take part of an archery competition as part of the country's Naadam Festival.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Andy Wong
Ireland, +15 Ireland tops the list as having the widest margin between men and women employed at capacity. The country has 71 percent of women employed at capacity, compared with 56 percent of men. Pictured above is the Ha'penny Bridge in Dublin.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Shawn Pogatchnik
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