Female Workforce Participation in Emerging Industries and Sectors with Dearth of Women Talents
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns female workforce participation in emerging sectors and industries with gender imbalances, as raised by Miss Cheryl Chan Wei Ling and Ms Tin Pei Ling. Minister of State Ms Gan Siow Huang responded that the female employment rate rose to 57.7% in 2020, with increased representation among PMETs and in the information, financial, and health services sectors. While women’s share in STEM jobs grew to 32.4%, research suggests gender occupational differences stem from varying psychological traits, social norms, and values regarding workplace flexibility. The Minister of State noted that women now constitute 52.8% of the workforce across key growth sectors. To address these trends, the Ministry of Manpower continues to work with tripartite partners to support women entering and remaining in their chosen fields, including emerging industries.
Transcript
The following question stood in the name of Miss Cheryl Chan Wei Ling –
10 To ask the Minister for Manpower what are the Ministry’s observations of the job market in terms of emerging trends or developments where female professionals are coming forward to apply their skill sets in emerging industries like digitalisation and sustainability.
11 Ms Tin Pei Ling asked the Minister for Manpower (a) which growth sectors currently see the largest dearth of women talents and leaders; and (b) what are the factors that could have contributed to this gender imbalance.
Mr Speaker: Someone pose the question, please.
Ms Jessica Tan Soon Neo (East Coast): Question No 10.
The Minister of State for Manpower (Ms Gan Siow Huang) (for the Minister for Manpower): Mr Speaker, may I take Question Nos 10 and 11 by Miss Cheryl Chan and Ms Tin Pei Ling together?
Mr Speaker: Yes, please.
Ms Gan Siow Huang: Singapore's female employment rate has increased over the past decade from 54% in 2010 to 57.7% in 2020. And this ranks well, compared to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries.
Women's share amongst Professional Managers, Executives and Technicians (PMETs) has also increased over the decade, from 41.1% to 45.6%. We are observing more women joining growth sectors such as in information and communication, financial services and health and social services. Altogether, women make up 52.8% in these three sectors.
The share of women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) jobs, while lower, has also increased from 29.9% in 2015, to 32.4% in 2020. In 2019, MOM conducted a joint study on Singapore's suggested gender pay gap with Assoc Prof Jessica Pan from NUS and the study found that the differences in gender ratios across occupations could be due to gender differences in terms of personality and psychological traits, skills, different values placed on workplace flexibility, as well as social norms.
We will continue to work with our tripartite partners and community stakeholders to support women's participation in the workforce and help them enter and remain in occupations of their choice, including in emerging sectors.