UN urges PNG to narrow gender gap in employment

 PAPUA New Guinea has been urged to narrow the gender gap in employment if it is to increase household income by 14 per cent in 2020.

A United Nations-commissioned report, Seeding Social Enterprise in PNG, said the economically active population in PNG was estimated to be around three million of which 35 per cent were woman.

“Research has shown that narrowing the gender gap in employment could increase household income in Papua New Guinea by as much as 14 per cent by 2020,” it said. 

The report said there was a large number of women engaged in informal activities but women employment is steadily increasing in formal businesses and sectors such as health and education. 

“For instance 27 per cent of primary school principals were women compared to 13 per cent in 2002. The number of female teachers increased from 27 per cent to 55 per cent in 2012.