Manila – Government leaders, education experts, and private sector representatives gathered at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila for the launch of the global report Closing the Gender Gap in Education and Employment, a report of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) published in partnership with UNESCO. The event was co-organized by UNESCO and the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines (UNACOM).
Despite progress in education, women in the Philippines and around the world continue to face disadvantages in the job market. The report highlights a growing disconnect between women’s academic success and their employment outcomes. While more women are completing tertiary education than men, they remain underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, and face persistent wage gaps and barriers to career advancement.
“The Philippines has made strong progress in women’s education. But education alone is not enough. Women need real access to quality jobs. That means making workplaces more inclusive and removing the barriers that continue to limit their potential” said Hiromichi Katayama, Programme Specialist, UNESCO Regional Office in Jakarta.
One of the key contributors to this imbalance is occupational segregation. Women remain concentrated in traditionally lower-paying sectors such as education, healthcare, and administrative services, while men dominate high-paying technical and managerial roles. Even within the same fields of study, earnings gaps persist. Female graduates in STEM fields, for example, tend to earn less than their male counterparts and are less likely to advance into leadership positions. Structural factors such as gender bias in hiring, workplace discrimination, and limited access to professional networks further compound these disparities.
The report makes it clear that increasing access to education is only one part of the solution. Closing this gap matters not only for equality, but for the economy. Global studies estimate that eliminating gender disparities in the labour market could boost GDP by as much as 20 percent. Without meaningful employment opportunities, especially in high-growth sectors like STEM, women remain excluded from the full economic and social benefits of their academic achievements. In the Philippines, failing to bridge the gap means underutilizing a major portion of the skilled workforce.
“We are encouraged by the growing synergy among education institutions, government, businesses, civil society, and the youth sector. But we cannot slow down now. This publication is not a conclusion. It is a call to action. At UNACOM, we want to contribute to ensuring that the report/publication will be shared, understood, and acted upon.” Said Dr. Ivan Anthony Henares, Secretary General, Philippine National Commission for UNESCO.
Participants from the government, education and training institutions, employers, and industry associations confirmed the urgent need for coordinated and harmonized actions to ensure effective school-to-work transitions and decent employment, especially for female learners and jobseekers.
