New professions & new personal paths.
EUROPARTENAIRES SEMINARS
Friedrich-Ebert Foundation
New professions and new personal paths: what challenges arise for women?
Athens, 08/06/2001
Speech by Anna Karamanou
The explosive development of technology and the globalization of the economy confront us with complex phenomena that radically transform the structures and functioning of the world of work. New technologies alter our relationship with time and space, diminishing the significance of the workplace, as in many cases it is possible to work from home or anywhere else.
It is a fact that a new era has already begun, where machines, at an ever-increasing pace, are replacing workers in the production and distribution of goods as well as in the provision of services. The organization of work is changing with the use of new technologies, the strengthening of the service sector, the constant demand for new products, new specialized knowledge, the mobility of capital, and the opening of new markets.
However, in the past, when technology removed jobs from one sector, new sectors usually developed that absorbed the surplus workforce. Today, all three main sectors of the economy—agriculture, industry, services—are subject to technological changes that push millions into unemployment. The only new sector that has emerged is the Information Technology sector, which employs a small elite of entrepreneurs, scientists, technicians, computer programmers, professional trainers, and consultants. Despite the rapid growth of this sector, it is not expected to absorb more than a small fraction of the millions of people who will be displaced in the coming decades by the revolutionary changes brought about by science and technology in the global economy.
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The Greek labor market is characterized to a greater extent by pronounced imbalances in the supply and demand for labor by profession and region. This is based on the fact that Greece is marked by uneven development, which is reflected in the structure of employment.
In Greece, the traditionally dominant agricultural sector is seriously shrinking. Employment in the Greek industry continues to decline. Construction activity alternates between periods of recession and recovery. In contrast, significant growth is observed in the service sector, which consistently shows greater dynamism than manufacturing. Similar developments are prevailing in the labor market. Job opportunities for farmers are decreasing, as are those for industrial workers. Conversely, demand is increasing for various professions in the service sectors, tourism, healthcare, high technology, and generally in specialties of the tertiary sector, for individuals with adequate training and the ability to adapt to modern technological developments.
Regarding female employment in Greece, based on data from the Eurostat survey published on June 1st, 2001, female employment in Greece reaches only 41.3% of the female population in the country, while the employment rates for young women (ages 15-24) are also extremely low, with only 22% being employed. This percentage is the lowest among all EU member states.
Furthermore, Eurostat informs us that in Greece, two-thirds (63.5%) of women work in services. This reality follows the broader trend in the European Union, where women are employed in the service sector at a rate of 80.1%. Among the professional sectors included in the service industry, Greek women prefer jobs in wholesale and retail trade. The number of Greek women working in this sector exceeds 235,000. Approximately 142,000 Greek women work in education, while around 105,000 are employed in health and social care.
In the agricultural sector, Greek women stand out compared to their counterparts in other EU countries. While the average employment of women in agriculture in Europe is only 4%, in Greece, 23.1% of working women are engaged in agricultural tasks. What will be the future trend? Will Greek women “prefer” agriculture or services? According to the UN, by 2015, 65.1% of the population in our country will reside in urban centers, compared to the current 59.5%, while services will become the primary sector of employment for women in our country.
According to UN data on unemployment, in 1997, the percentage of long-term unemployed women was 62.2%, compared to 45.8% of long-term unemployed men. The unemployment rate for women aged 15 to 64 is more than double that of men, at 15% compared to 6.4%.
Regarding inequality in the workplace, Eurostat data reveals that Greek women earn only 68% of men’s wages, and over time, the wage gap between men and women continues to grow (OIKONOMIKOS TAXYDROMOS 26/08/1999, 15). These differences are due to the fact that women typically occupy positions with lower pay, even when they possess more qualifications than men. Additionally, women do not participate adequately in professions related to new technologies or business management. The UN estimates that 75% of unpaid work in Greece is carried out by women. The overwhelming majority of workers under part-time or other informal and unstable forms of employment are women.
In the field of education, the proportion of graduates from universities and technological institutes is similar for both women and men. Additionally, the percentage of women with higher education, including postgraduate degrees, is higher (37%) than that of men (34%). Nevertheless, women’s participation in managerial positions is only 4.9%, 22.3% among specialized staff, and 32.5% in supervisory roles. On the other hand, 41.4% of clerical staff are women, 35.1% of support staff (guards, messengers), and, of course, 99.8% of cleaning staff!
Undoubtedly, the image of women’s employment, in general, is closely intertwined with the culture of each country and the quality of its democracy.
It is certain that there is a direct and reciprocal influence between the broader social division of labor, the education system, and women’s professional choices. Indeed, the position of women in the workplace is closely linked to their status in the family and their choices within the education system. The different fields of study pursued by the two genders result in the creation of essentially two labor markets defined by gender, with significant disparities between them. At the same time, the maintained traditional role in the family, the gendered division of labor, the persistence of double standards in sexual ethics, and social stereotypes have a decisive impact on the progression and status of women in the professional arena.
For working women who possess knowledge and the ability for continuous renewal, there are greater employment prospects and the potential for higher incomes. Knowledge of foreign languages, especially English, along with mandatory familiarity with modern technology, constitutes a fundamental arsenal for the new worker of the future. Due to the rapid developments in technology and the economy, new working women will need to combine specialization with a broad base of knowledge.
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Regarding the EU as a whole, women are employed in the service sector at a rate of 80%, compared to 55% of men. This means that the risk of losing their jobs is lower for women, who primarily work in the service sector, while men are mostly employed in the agricultural and industrial sectors, where job losses are significant due to the restructuring occurring in these areas as a result of the industrialization of agriculture and rapid advancements in new technologies. There is also an underrepresentation of women in high-level management positions, where only 6% of the roles are held by women.
Regarding women scientists, their underrepresentation in science, research, and economic development in the EU remains a key issue that continues to delineate and limit Europe’s research potential. Despite the high participation of women in higher education (50%) in many member countries, women represent less than 5% of the academic community.
In the EU, inequalities in women’s employment are reflected in the lack of recognition of the value of women’s work by society, inequality in employment types, as part-time work is the primary form of employment for women, as well as the silent acceptance of female unemployment, which remains at high levels (the unemployment rate among those aged 15-25 is 21%, compared to 18.2% for young men), while women’s employment stands at 51.2% compared to 70.8% for men.
The prevailing views in the EU regarding the labor market evolve as follows: One perspective—based on the fact that women are starting one-third of new businesses related to the new economy—argues that the new economy has eliminated the monopoly of male-dominated jobs. Additionally, in the fields of communication and audiovisual media, there is no gender bias, resulting in positive prospects for women. New forms of work created as a result of rapid technological advancements have reintroduced women into the labor market.
The second perspective highlights the risk of social isolation for women due to working from home. On one hand, it weakens the social recognition of their work contributions, and on the other, the concept of work will lose one of its fundamental functions: the socialization of individuals.
Various studies have shown that countries with high levels of female employment (Northern Europe) exhibit low unemployment rates. In contrast, countries where employment does not exceed 40-50% (Southern Europe) show high unemployment rates. Furthermore, considering that the birth rate is directly linked to the working conditions offered to women, I would conclude that full employment for women signifies job creation, development, and a solution to the demographic problem.
Finally, I believe that the distinct capabilities of women—such as their ability to compromise, achieve consensus, work in teams, and the sensitivity that characterizes the female gender—are key to the success of our society at the beginning of the 21st century.