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Increasing Numbers of Women Graduates

Guest post by: Joyce Gioia

Article Overview: What does the increasing percentages of women graduates mean for business?

Increasing Numbers of Women Graduates

On occasion, we have discussed the increasing percentages of women graduates---and what these trends mean for society. According to a recently published report from the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), in 32 of the 34 countries that are members, more girls than boys now complete their secondary education. Across the globe, women accounted for 58 percent of graduates within OECD member states in 2009, the most recent year for which data are available; that figure rose from 54 percent in 2000. However, men continue to dominate the sciences: worldwide, about 60 percent of science graduates are male. Women make up almost three-quarters of the graduating students in health and welfare, and almost two-thirds of the graduates in humanities and the arts.

Some of the differences in graduation rates between countries are striking. In Estonia, which has the highest proportion of female graduates, more than two-thirds are women. Many are destined for careers in the classroom; an astonishing 92 percent of those studying education are female. By contrast, Japan has just over 40 percent of women graduates, and teaching remains relatively male by developed-world standards.

With respect to the percentages, Brazil has a higher percentage of women graduates than the United States (63 percent versus 57 percent). Just over 40 percent of Brazilians (versus 43 percent in the US) going into sciences are women; almost equal percentages choose arts and humanities (58 versus 59), and women represent75 and 80 percent of those pursuing careers in health and welfare.

The implications of these trends are significant and far-reaching. With more women graduating than men, more women will be prepared for higher-level jobs. Ultimately, more women will be moving into positions of leadership. Now, consider that women are the childbearing and often child-rearing members of couples.

Employers will have to work harder than ever to keep women on the job, so there will be more emphasis on lactation rooms and childcare onsite and back-up services to help young parents cope. We also expect to see more stay-at-home dads and gender-specific programs aimed at boys to encourage them to stay in school. ###

In the future, it will be more important than ever to keep childcare costs reasonable, yet the latest study reports that childcare costs are rising.

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Article Tags: gioia, graduates, workplace



Related Forum Posts
Re: History of Women in Business in the United States - Yes. Women have increasingly made positive economic contributions to society and their position is being recognized more and more as seen on the Forbes List of Executive Women. In general, women can be a bit more practical in their approach as entrepreneurs too.
A ton of Great Women - You might want to profile Teresa Cascioli of LakePort Brewery. She has an amazing story! I met her at at the celebratory luncheon for the Profit/Chatelaine Top 100 Women Business Owners. The Top 100 list is also a great resource for inspirational stories of Women Entrepreneurs.
Re: Are entrepreneur women more organized than men? - Women are generally more organised than men. They have good instincts more than men. Women are generally aggressive when it come to business. You don't want to mess up with them.
Re: Are entrepreneur women more organized than men? - The issue of women being more organized than men is true, start from you home, just see how messy the boys are. Women are also very cautious, unlike men who take any risk, a woman will analyze the risk first. Women are also go getter when it comes to business, once they make their mind, then they go for it.
Re: Why aren't there more women entrepreneurs? - My opinion on this (being a women, and being disabled), is; Women in general like security. Women are the caretakers, in general. In the work environment we are the one to have children. We are the ones who leave work to do this. We deal with a stigma that we are bad mothers if we work, but we are a bad mother if we do not work. I feel there is no way a man could ever understand this. Sure they can try, and some do a good job of it, however they truly do not understand. How could they?? Being a entrepreneur is throwing cation to the wind. It takes believing in yourself. It takes a women who can have someone say no, put us down or just plan old negativity and for us to turn it around. Women who can do this are called names, while men in the business world are just expected to have a thick skin. Studies show in the work environment that women are more apt to be bullies. Women are more apt to turn on each other. We expect more out of each other. Many women also use the work environment to socialize and to find a mate. Men and women are not created equal. Once we understand this and take what we are and "run" with it; the better all of us will be. Women business owners, women entrepreneurs are still considered a minority. Since there are more women then men in this world, some day this will turn around. This too is why men need to protect themselves and keep us under some kind of control. What bothers me to no end is when women give in to the mans world using sex as a selling tool. We need strong women leaders, not those who use their bodies as a step up. This is just my opinion on this subject.


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