Women make up more than half of the population of Canada (50.4 per cent) and nearly half of its workforce (47 per cent), according to Statistics Canada.
Those numbers point to the importance women play in the nation’s economy, but they only scratch the surface of their potential.
While the participation of men in the workforce is 91 per cent it’s only 82 per cent for women.
On March 8, this year’s International Women’s Day – themed #BeBoldForChange – is focused on forging a better working world for women.
Over the years, legislation, workplace attitudes and social norms have chipped away at the barriers to women in the workplace and the gaps between their male counterparts.
That being said, there is work to be done to tear down barriers that still exist – many of which continue to be cultural.
Part of the participation gap can be attributed to traditional gender roles. For the most part, women continue to be the primary caregiver to children in the home, which takes them out of the workforce.
Improving access to childcare either through government programs or more workplaces providing daycare services would help ease the transition back into the workplace.
As it stands, the cost of childcare – as high as $800 monthly for ¬preschoolers – means it is cheaper for one parent to stay home and that is commonly the mother.
In 2013, the Globe and Mail published a six-part series on building a better daycare system in Canada. At the time, the suggested cost for such as program was a mind-boggling $11 billion.
The question is would that be throwaway money? Many have suggested the potential economic gains could even out or possibly out pace the cost – reduced poverty, increased spending power, reduced reliance on welfare and more people paying taxes.
Others argue that it is not up to the taxpayer to help families with childcare and having children is a personal choice.
While that is absolutely true, the catch is it is getting increasingly more difficult to have children on one income. The big picture precludes simply telling people to stop having babies, considering societies have a tendency to decline without new generations to take the reins.
International Women’s Day is a good time to highlight these types of discussions that should be front and centre all year long.
Equality in the workforce doesn’t only make sense, it is an economic necessity – unless we want to willfully exclude half our population from gainful employment.
