APEC Nurtures Women’s Economic Participation
As technology becomes integrated throughout all corners of the economy, the importance of skilled labor in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) has increased over time. However, there is still a significant gender gap in these fields that needs to be addressed within APEC’s 21 member economies.
“We know from the data that there is an under-representation of women in STEM fields – not only as students and researchers, but also as managers, leaders and entrepreneurs – which significantly hinders sustainable economic growth and prosperity throughout the region,” said Ann Katsiak, Chief of Party for US-APEC Technical Assistance to Advance Regional Integration.
APEC’s Policy Partnership on Women and the Economy aims to narrow this gender gap and facilitate women in STEM by implementing a framework it designed that addresses barriers for women to excel in this field.
The multifaceted APEC Women in STEM framework encompasses four key areas that address the challenge of under-representation of women in STEM fields. This includes an enabling environment, education, employment and entrepreneurship. Each area also includes other issues that require more attention such as culture, diverse experience and history, access to capital and recruitment, as well as laws and regulation.
The framework contains an analysis of current conditions and nuances of women’s participation in the field. It also describes barriers and recommends what economies can do to better facilitate and expand women in STEM.
Government officials, academics and practitioners are taking steps toward implementing these recommendations. This includes encouraging companies to publically commit to gender-inclusive recruitment policy and advocate for the development of public policy agendas that call for the public and private sectors to actively encourage women’s participation in STEM fields. It also inspires girls from an early age to envision themselves in STEM careers and welcomes the establishment of non-profit organizations that provide skills training to girls and women.
Press-release at the official APEC web-site