To celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) on 8 March, the EOC released data-loaded posts and info graphics on its social media platforms, calling on the community to reflect on how we can do more to foster gender equality and better empower women in Hong Kong. 

While Hong Kong women’s education level and labour participation rates have been growing in recent decades, many women are leaving their career to take care of their families. According to Hong Kong’s Census and Statistics Department, only 48.2% of married women participated in the workforce in 2021, compared to 64.2% of married men. More than one-third of women who were not employed explained that they were burdened with household duties, while only 3.2% of men who were out of the job market said the same.

Also, data reveals that the gender pay gap remains a persistent issue in Hong Kong, with women earning a lower media monthly income than their counterparts across various industries. Female workers in managerial positions earned HK$9,800 less each month than their male counterparts of the same rank, according to the data from the Census and Statistics Department. 

As Hong Kong is determined to “compete for talents” to drive growths in the post-pandemic era, we should strive to unleash the potential of economically inactive women to replenish our aging and shrinking labour force. The business sector is highly encouraged to seek ways to empower women in the workplace, such as providing family-friendly measures, so that employees can manage their work and family duties at the same time. 

• Read our LinkedIn’s post for IWD
• Read our Instagram’s post for IWD
• Read our Facebook’s post for IWD
• Find tips for family-friendly measures