Bleak picture for women in workplace

WORKING women are more likely to earn less than men regardless of race, though more women in managerial positions have tertiary education.

This gender disparity in employment and the earnings of women and men was revealed by Statistics SA’s latest report on gender, released last week.

Figures show that while men are among the top earners and dominate mana- gerial positions, most do not have tertiary education.

50.2% of male managers are without tertiary qualification compared to only 44.9% of women; and

70.7% of male professionals and 58.8% of technicians also fall under the same category.

The report indicated that women, who have jobs faced inequalities in the workplace, despite government efforts to empower women.

“Men are more likely than women to be found in the top earning categories.

“The proportion of men is about twice that of women among those who earn R16 000 or more a month,” the report said.

The number of women who take home R1 000 or less each month was double that of men.

The report showed that more men do not even have a Grade 12 certificate in the above fields compared to women, especially technicians.

In terms of race, the study also painted a picture of a country where more whites enjoy benefits like medical aid and higher salaries than their black counterparts.

Black women were also less likely to be employed than black men, but also less than women and men of other races.

In 2011, more than a third of black women were employed compared to over 56.1% of white women, 43% of coloured women and 40% of Indian and Asian women.

Black women in rural areas were most affected.

Furthermore, adults aged 25 years and above with no formal education are highest among black men and women at 14.8% and 10.8% respectively, while less than 1% of white men have no schooling.

Stats SA believed the study will help government in policy formulation, particularly as it fights to empower women.

The survey does not include gender-related violence as it proves hard to collect reliable information. –