Enablers, Barriers, Responses
The ageing population across the developed countries is having the effect of shrinking the labour pool. In the US, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that there will be a shortfall of 10 million US workers by 2010; and in Western Europe, where birthrates in many countries are well below the population replacement level, the shortage of workers is likely to occur earlier and be more acute.
In emerging economies, particularly growth economies such as China and India, rapid economic development make it necessary to optimise all available human resources. In these countries, underutilising half of the potential workforce is no longer an acceptable option.
Moreover, a recent article in The Economist magazine cited research indicating that over the past few decades, women in general have contributed more to growth in the world’s gross domestic product (GDP) than either new technology or the emerging economies of China and India.
Accordingly, it is apparent that any success in promoting gender diversity in the workforce will have a tangible positive impact on economic growth in both the developed and the developing worlds, and that continued focus on this area is therefore warranted.
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