Overcoming Age and Gender Barriers for Women in the Workforce

Part ONE: Ageism and Gender Bias: Navigating Career Challenges for Women Over Time

As a maturing woman, have you ever felt (as I have) that as you got older, you encounter fewer professional opportunities despite actively seeking roles that match your education and expertise? Have you started to notice that rejections outweigh opportunities, sharply contrasting with your past experiences?

If so, you are not alone.

Ageism combined with gender discrimination is a reality many women confront as they grow older. It's an unsettling sense of being sidelined or undervalued simply based on our age and gender. Many of us remember a time when doors seemed to open effortlessly, when our expertise and potential were recognized and celebrated. But as time progresses, it often seems as though age and gender become perceived barriers to advancement rather than badges of wisdom and experience.

[A]s time progresses, it often seems as though age and gender become perceived barriers to advancement rather than badges of wisdom and experience.

Although this is a troubling trend, recognizing the systemic biases that contribute to this disparity is the first step toward addressing them. By sharing experiences as I am doing now, seeking support, and advocating for change, women can challenge the status quo to carve out pathways for continued success. I envision a future where women of all ages, stages, and walks of life are valued, respected, and afforded equal opportunities in the workplace.

But hey, that’s just me and my reflections, my experiences. If you don’t want to take my word for it, let’s take a look at the stats.

The Center for American Progress (CAP) report highlights the growing contribution in the labor force of individuals aged 55 or older, particularly emphasizing the role of older women. According to the report's most recent findings, over the next decade, older women are expected to account for 42% of labor force growth, with significant implications for the U.S. economy. The report sheds light on the unique challenges older women face in the labor market, however (e.g., a higher likelihood of caregiving responsibilities, earlier wage stagnation compared to men, and a considerable percentage of women earning low wages—especially among older Black and Hispanic women). These challenges contribute to lower Social Security benefits, less savings for retirement, and a higher risk of poverty in old age.

To address these issues, the CAP recommends several policy measures— strengthening age discrimination protections, enhancing workforce supports, and raising the minimum wage. These steps aim to advance equity and economic opportunities for older women, ensuring their economic prospects are not limited by age while facilitating their continued growth and advancement in the U.S. economy.

The graph illustrates the percentage of older women (aged 55 or older) earning low wages by ethnicity. It highlights the economic disparities older women face, especially among Black and Hispanic populations, with 33% of the overall demographic, 40% of older Black women, and 52% of older Hispanic women earning low wages. This data underscores the urgency of implementing the Center for American Progress's recommendations to strengthen age discrimination protections, enhance workforce supports, and raise the minimum wage to advance equity and economic opportunities for older women in the U.S. economy.

We can do better—much better.

Part TWO: The Global Gender Gap Index

The Global Gender Gap Index, introduced by the World Economic Forum in 2006, benchmarks progress towards gender parity in four dimensions:

• Economic Opportunities

• Education

• Health

• Political Leadership

  
  

The report covers 146 countries, with a focus on assessing gender gaps across these dimensions. Iceland leads the rankings, having closed over 90% of its gender gap, followed by Norway, Finland, New Zealand, and Sweden. Overall, progress has been made, with 42 economies improving their gender parity score by at least 1 percentage point, but there are still challenges, as 35 countries have seen declines in their scores.

Analyzing the progress made in narrowing gender gaps since 2006, the report reveals a slow but steady trajectory. On average, the global gender gap has closed by only 4.1 percentage points over 17 years, equating to a yearly reduction of 0.24 percentage points. If this pace continues, it is projected that the overall global gender gap will close in 131 years, similar to the projection from the previous year. This indicates a persistent challenge in achieving gender parity, highlighting the need for accelerated efforts to address gender inequalities.

In North America, progress towards gender equality has slowed slightly, with the region now needing an estimated 95 years to close the gender gap. Despite this, North America has the highest gender parity score for economic opportunities, with both Canada and the United States showing improvements in wage equality and earned income. Educationally, North America is almost at full parity, with Canada leading the way. However, there have been declines in health parity, particularly in healthy life expectancy, where women are now living fewer healthy years than men. The biggest setback has been in political empowerment, with a significant drop in the share of women ministers, notably in the United States. This decline has impacted the overall gender parity score for the region.

LinkedIn data reveals that globally, women make up 41.9% of the workforce, with trends showing a slight increase in female representation until 2020, followed by a recent decline. Certain industries, like Healthcare and Care Services, have a higher proportion of women, while others, such as Oil, Gas, and Mining, have significantly lower female representation. Despite progress in some sectors, achieving gender balance across industries remains a challenge, with women often underrepresented in key areas like Infrastructure and Financial Services.

The latest analysis of gender gaps across various indicators reveals a complex picture. While progress has been made in narrowing income gaps, with nearly half of countries showing improvements, disparities remain stark. Notably, only Albania and Burundi have closed over 80% of the wage gap for similar work. In terms of leadership roles, there is significant underrepresentation of women, with the global gender gap in senior, managerial, and legislative roles at 42.9%. Educational attainment shows positive trends, with the majority of countries having closed at least 95% of their gender gap. However, challenges persist, especially in literacy rates and tertiary education enrollment in certain regions. The Health and Survival subindex shows high gender parity, but there are disparities in healthy life expectancy in some countries. Political empowerment remains a significant challenge, with Iceland leading but many countries lagging behind.

The United States ranks 43rd in the World Economic Forum’s 2023 Global Gender Gap Report. In Economic Participation, the U.S. ranks 21st.

We can do better—much better.

Gender Gap Index report:

Global Gender Gap Closure Progress:

This graph illustrates the global average progress in closing the gender gap from 2006 to 2023. It highlights the slow but steady trajectory that indicates, based on this pace, it would take approximately 131 years to achieve full gender parity.

Regional Gender Parity Comparison:

This is a comparison of the gender parity scores across the four dimensions (Economic Opportunities, Education, Health, and Political Leadership) for a few select regions (including North America), showcasing where North America stands in comparison to the best-performing regions and highlighting the specific areas needing improvement.

Female Workforce Representation by Sector:

The graph shows the percentage of women in the workforce across different sectors, illustrating the disparity in female representation among industries. This graph also highlights the sectors with significant improvements and those where challenges persist.

There's a long road ahead. If you find yourself grappling with any of these challenges, please know that you're not alone. Your experiences are valid, your frustrations, understandable. Together, let's confront the barriers, challenge the norms, and pave the way for a more equitable future—one where age and gender are no longer obstacles but steppingstones to success.

We can do better—we must do better.