VN shows highest proportion of employed women in ASEAN

The information was released at the Government at a Glance: Southeast Asia 2019 on September 10, a joint report published today by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The Government at a Glance: Southeast Asia 2019 provides internationally comparable data on government resources, processes, and outcomes on public governance in member countries of ASEAN. The report covers 34 indicators in areas such as public services, including promoting digital government, creating more transparency, and providing better work opportunities for women.

The report shows that women are well-represented in the public sector workforce in ASEAN, although they face significant barriers in reaching senior leadership positions. 

In 2016, almost half (47%) of the public sector posts in ASEAN countries were held by women. However, only 10% of ministerial positions were held by women, compared to 28% in OECD countries. On average, women held 20% of parliamentary seats in ASEAN countries in 2018, just 1.7 percentage points higher than in 2008.

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. In 2018, it made commitments of new loans and grants amounting to US$21.6 billion. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.

Working with over 100 countries, the OECD is a global policy forum that promotes policies to improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world. 

By Thuy Dung