opinionMost women around the world would prefer to be working at paid jobs, and nearly as many men agree with them, even in regions with traditionally fewer women in the workforce, according to research released on Tuesday. Only a third of women and men would prefer to see women stay at home, said the report by the U.N. International Labour Organization (ILO) and U.S. polling organization Gallup Inc.Half of the world's working age women participate in the labor market, compared with three-quarters of men, the ILO said. Those levels vary by region, with only a quarter or less of women in the workforce in South Asia, North Africa and Arab states. Even where women are less present in the workforce, 57 percent of men in North Africa and 52 percent of men in Arab states said they would prefer to see women in paid work as well as working to care for their families. The gender wage gap globally was estimated at 23 percent, meaning on average women earn 77 percent of what men earn, according to ILO data.

Source: Sunday Times March 08, 2017 11:50 UTC