In the next decade nearly 1 billion women are likely to enter the global
labour force. But their economic potential is largely unrealised.
According to a report by Booz & Company, a consultancy, if female
employment rates matched those of men, GDP would increase by 5% in
America and 9% in Japan by 2020. The impact would be even larger for
developing countries, home to most of the world’s women who lack
adequate education and support (social and political). Increasing female
employment would increase GDP significantly in countries like India and
Egypt, where female labour-participation rates are below 30%.