The global mobility gender gap
Despite the growing demand for more equal representation of men and women across all industries, statistics still indicate that there is a gender gap in international deployment.
According to international consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), despite 71% of women stating they would be willing to experience an international assignment, only 20% are currently doing so. The study also revealed that 57% of global mobility leaders agreed that women were underrepresented in their mobility populations.
The need for female role models
In response to this still established gender gap, PwC cites the need for more exposure for success stories which can help generate and uplift female role models.
While the responsibility and weight of change should always lie on companies with unfair policies and internalised biases, it’s been proven that representation affects what women (and other minorities) believe is possible. When women are represented in an industry, role, or opportunity, it makes it more likely other women will see themselves in similar positions and set up those goals for themselves.
Championing success stories
In a bid to do our bit, and show our support for a more equal workforce, throughout the month of August, we’ll be sharing diverse stories of women who’ve undertaken successful international assignments. It’s our hope that these stories will encourage, inspire and spur on the next generation of women in the global mobility space.
Gender diversity series
Over the course of 6 months, I met with women from different backgrounds, home countries and career paths. We spoke about their international experiences, the things they loved and the difficulties they faced. Every woman had a different story – some travelled for many years, others a few months; some initiated the travel while others were deployed by their employer. The destinations were different. The stories different. And yet, a common theme emerged. Despite the various difficulties of leaving home, culture shock and loneliness, there was always a positive personal and professional growth aspect....Read More
Shield GEO makes international employment simple. Our customers use Shield GEO to employ and payroll hundreds of workers in over fifty countries. Find out more.