The study, titled “The Underworked Solution: Women and the Talent Crunch”, states that low rates of female employment is a problem, not just in the Middle East, but across the world, which contributes to shortage of working-age skilled workers.

The Middle East joins the list of areas such as South Asia, North Africa, Southeastern Europe and Central Europe, as areas with lowest rates of female employment.

Several positions in service sectors, such as Information Technology, engineering, and healthcare, are the sectors where women have the potential to excel, but still, a huge void exists in terms of number of women considered for and offered these posts, said Patrick Luby, Managing Director, Manpower Middle East.

Regionally, UAE is more advanced in promoting female labour participation, particularly, women in senior level positions, both in private and public sectors.

UAE stands as a unique example in the Middle East region, where there is varying cultural attitudes towards working women. However, the existing economic realities and increased investment in learning and education, is hoped to bring in increased female population in labour market in future.

Posted on 13/7/2009

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