Pay gap in Asia: Women make less than Men
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Women in Asia are making less than their male counterparts a new study finds. The Korn Ferry Global Gender Pay Index show, on average, women make 15% less than men.
Comparatively, the overall average gender pay gap in Asia is larger in mature markets such as Australia and New Zealand. At 19.3%, it’s higher than the global gap, which is 16.1%. Looking at China and India, which are considered to be growing markets and fast-growing markets Indonesia and Vietnam, the gap is lower; around 14.4% and 11.5% respectively.
Country | Overall Gap | Same Level | Same Level, Same Company | Same Level, Same Company, Same Function |
| Average Across Globe | 16.1% | 5.3% | 1.5% | 0.5% |
| Mature Markets | 19.3% | 6.0% | 2.4% | 1.2% |
| Australia | 18.9% | 7.2% | 3.1% | 1.6% |
| New Zealand | 19.8% | 4.9% | 1.6% | 0.8% |
| Growing Markets | 14.4% | 4.9% | 0.7% | 0.3% |
| China | 12.7% | 5.8% | 1.0% | 0.3% |
| India | 16.1% | 4.0% | 0.4% | 0.2% |
| Fast Growing Markets | 11.5% | 2.2% | -1.3% | -3.1% |
| Indonesia | 5.3% | -1.2% | -1.7% | -4.1% |
| Vietnam | 17.6% | 5.6% | -0.9% | -2.0% |
| Others | ||||
| Brazil | 26.2% | 15.0% | 5.5% | 1.9% |
| France | 14.1% | 3.2% | 3.0% | 2.2% |
| Germany | 16.8% | 4.3% | 3.2% | 2.3% |
| United Kingdom | 23.8% | 8.3% | 2.6% | 1.3% |
| United States | 17.6% | 7.0% | 2.6% | 0.9% |
Courtesy: Korn Ferry
The Korn Ferry Gender Pay Index found that, when evaluating the same job level, such as director, the gap fell to 5.3 percent globally. When considering the same level at the same company, the gap further reduced to 1.5 percent. And when the male and female employees were at the same job level and the same company and worked in the same function, the average gap amounted to 0.5 percent.
Courtesy: Stock Photo Secrets
“The issue of male and female pay parity is very significant and real, and it is critical that it be addressed,” said Korn Ferry Senior Client Partner Maryam Morse. “While our data show women earn about 16 percent less than men globally, the gap can be closed if organizations address pay parity across the organization and continue to strive to increase the percentage of women in the best-paying parts of the labor market, including the most senior roles and functions such as engineering and finance.”
The following table highlights results from representative nations from across the globe and shows the salary gap percentage, all favoring men.
Courtesy: Korn Ferry
“Pay parity is still a very real issue, but it’s an issue that can be addressed if there is an ongoing effort to enable, encourage and select talented women to take on and thrive in challenging roles,” said Jane Edison Stevenson, Korn Ferry's Global Leader for CEO Succession. “Our research shows women have the skills and competencies needed to ascend to the highest levels within organizations, and it should be a business imperative for companies to help them get there.”
