The future of women at work: Part 3

Some women may leave the labour market entirely. Long-established barriers may make it harder for women to make transitions. They have less time to reskill or search for employment because they spend much more time than men on unpaid care work; they are less mobile due to physical safety, infrastructure, and legal challenges; and have lower access to digital technology than men. Policymakers and businesses need to step up interventions, targeted at women, to overcome these barriers.

High priorities include more investment in training and transitional support; more provision of childcare and safe and affordable transportation; addressing stereotypes about occupations; boosting women’s access to mobile internet and digital skills in emerging economies; and supporting women entrepreneurs.

McKinsey Global Institute found in its research that 40 million to 160 million women—7 to 24 percent of those currently employed—may need to transition across occupations (the wide range reflects different paces of technology). For men, the range is comparable at 8 to 28 percent. If women take advantage of transition opportunities, they could maintain their current share of employment; if they cannot, gender inequality in work could worsen.

To make these transitions, women will need new skills.

In mature economies, only jobs requiring a college or advanced degree may experience net growth in demand. In emerging economies, the many women working in subsistence agriculture with little education may have difficulty securing work in other sectors. Even women remaining in their current jobs will need to refresh their skills; they could be more prone than men to partial automation of their jobs and will need to learn to work alongside automated systems.

More women work in lower-paid occupations than men.

In mature economies, demand for high-wage labour is expected to grow, while demand for medium- and low-wage labour could shrink. Many emerging economies could experience stronger growth in demand for higher‑wage jobs. Enabling women to move up the skills ladder could prepare them for higher-paying jobs and more economic opportunity. However, a potential glut of workers in lower-wage jobs—including men displaced from manufacturing—could put pressure on wages. It also means that some women could leave the labour market entirely.

The future of women at work: Part 2

McKinsey Global Institute found that potential job losses and gains for men and women could be different. Service-oriented and clerical support occupations could account for 52 percent of women’s job losses, but machine operation and craftwork occupations could account for 40 percent of men’s losses. The good news is that women are well represented in the fasted-growing sector, which is healthcare. This sector could account for 25 percent of potential jobs gained for women, while manufacturing could account for 25 percent of jobs gained for men.

Worldwide, 40 million to 160 million women—7 to 24 percent of those currently employed—may need to transition across occupations (the wide range reflects different paces of technology). For men, the range is comparable at 8 to 28 percent. If women take advantage of transition opportunities, they could maintain their current share of employment; if they cannot, gender inequality in work could worsen.

To make these transitions, women will need new skills. In mature economies, only jobs requiring a college or advanced degree may experience net growth in demand. In emerging economies, the many women working in subsistence agriculture with little education may have difficulty securing work in other sectors. Even women remaining in their current jobs will need to refresh their skills; they could be more prone than men to partial automation of their jobs and will need to learn to work alongside automated systems.

More women work in lower-paid occupations than men. In mature economies, demand for high-wage labour is expected to grow, while demand for medium- and low-wage labour will shrink. Many emerging economies could experience stronger growth in demand for higher‑wage jobs. Enabling women to move up the skills ladder could prepare them for higher-paying jobs and more economic opportunity. However, a potential glut of workers in lower-wage jobs, including men displaced from manufacturing, could put lower pressure on wages.

The future of women at work:part 1

The future of women at work: Transitions in the age of automation written by a team of authors from the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) in 2019

Covid-19 is changing the way we work, and those changes will have a profound effect on those already hit hard by forces such as automation and virtual work. One group that will be facing new challenges are women. Covid-19 may speed up the adaption of technology that will displace millions from their jobs; many others will need to change the way they work.

According to the McKinsey Global Institute between 40 million to 160 million women may lose their jobs and will need to transition between occupations by 2030 hopefully into higher-skilled roles. If women are able to make these transitions, they could find more productive, better-paid work; if they don’t, they could be stuck in low-income jobs or be forced out of the labour market. Covid-19 is forcing employers and workers to adapt to a new reality in which workers both men and women need to have more technical skills, be more mobile. However, there needs to be concerted and creative new solutions by employers to enable women to move forward and be successful in this new normal.

McKinsey Global Institute in its report found that men and women tend to cluster in different occupations in both mature and emerging economies. For instance, in many countries, women account for more than 70 percent of workers in healthcare and social assistance, but less than 25 percent of machine operators and craft workers.

We can look to the past for ideas on how the future may unfold, in a scenario where technological disruptions unfold on the scale of the industrial revolution women and men could face job displacement and potential job gains of a broadly similar magnitude. The   McKinsey Global Institute studied ten countries (Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States China, India, Mexico, and South Africa). Together, these ten economies account for about half of the world’s population and about 60 percent of global GDP. They found that an average of 20 percent of working women (107 million) could lose their jobs to technology versus 21 percent of men (163 million) by 2030. This will be countered by a rising demand for labour that could mean 20 percent more jobs for women, compared with 19 percent for men, assuming their shares of sectors and occupations hold. On the other hand, entirely, new occupations will be created, but so far approximately 60 percent of new occupations in the United States have been in male-dominated fields.

Serious Heat-related conditions

Heat exhaustion occurs when the body gets too hot. This is the body’s reaction to losing excessive amounts of water and salt contained in sweat.

Symptoms: Heavy sweating, pale skin, fast and weak pulse rate, fast and shallow breathing, muscle weakness or cramps, tiredness and weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea or vomiting, fainting.

What to do: Move to a cool place (preferably air-conditioned) and lie down. Remove excess clothing, take small sips of cool fluids, and have a cool shower, bath, or sponge bath. Put cool packs under the armpits, on the groin or on the back of the neck to reduce body heat. If symptoms last for longer than one hour, call your doctor, go to the nearest hospital emergency department.

Heat Stroke occurs when the body temperature is not controlled properly, and it rises above 40.5 °C. It is the most serious heat-related illness and is a life-threatening emergency. Immediate first aid aimed at lowering the body temperature as quickly as possible is especially important.

Symptoms: A sudden rise in body temperature, red, hot dry skin (because sweating has stopped – though the person may still be sweaty if they have been exercising), dry, swollen tongue, rapid pulse, rapid shallow breathing, intense thirst, headache, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, confusion, poor coordination or slurred speech, aggressive or bizarre behaviour, loss of consciousness, seizures or coma.

What to do: Call your emergency line (in Canada 911) and ask for an ambulance. While you are waiting for help, move the person to a cool, shaded area and keep them as still as possible. Remove excess clothing and give them small sips of water if they are conscious and able to drink. Bring their temperature down any way you can, for example by gently spraying them with cool water from a spray bottle or garden hose, soaking their clothes with cool water, or sponging their body with cool water. Place cool packs under their armpits, on the groin or on the back of their neck to reduce body heat. Do not give aspirin because they won’t help and may be harmful. If they are unconscious, lay the person on their side (the recovery position) and check they can breathe properly. Perform CPR if needed.

Heatstroke is a medical emergency. It can cause brain damage, so get yourself or the affected person to a hospital. Don't fool around with heatstroke.

Heat rash is an itchy, painful rash commonly called 'prickly heat'. It is caused by excessive sweating during hot, humid weather, and particularly affects young children.

Symptoms: A cluster of red pimples or small blisters, particularly on the neck or upper chest, or in the creases in the groin, elbow and under the breasts.

What to do: Move to a cooler, less humid environment. Keep the affected areas dry (powder can help) and avoid using ointments or creams because they keep the skin warm and moist which can make the condition worse.

Dehydration occurs when the body doesn't have enough water and other fluids to carry out its normal functions.

Symptoms: Dizziness, tiredness, irritability, thirst, dark yellow urine, loss of appetite, fainting.

What to do: Drink plenty of water or diluted fruit juice and avoid tea, coffee, and alcohol. Move to somewhere cool (preferably air-conditioned), and if possible, use a spray bottle filled with water to cool you down. If you have one, drink an oral rehydration solution such as hydrolyte. If you start to feel unwell, call your doctor, the nearest hospital emergency department.

Heat cramps usually affect people who sweat a lot during strenuous activity, causing the body to lose salt and water. This can lead to heat cramps.

Symptoms: Muscle pains or spasms. Heat cramps can also be an early symptom of heat exhaustion.

What to do: Stop all activity and lie in a cool place (preferably air-conditioned) with your legs raised slightly. Drink water or diluted fruit juice, have a cool shower or bath, massage your limbs to ease the spasms and apply cool packs. Do not go back to strenuous activity until a few hours after the cramps have subsided. If they continue for more than one hour, seek medical attention.

Summer is fun, a chance to enjoy the outdoors and expand our circle by still using social distancing and face-masks, so enjoy the wonderful weather while protecting yourself from the extreme heat.