More female broadband users can boost global GDP: UN report
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A new report released today by the Broadband Commission Working Group on Broadband and Gender reveals a 'significant and pervasive' 'tech gap' in access to information and communication technologies (ICTs).
Actions to promote the inclusion of women and girls are urged, to ensure that the women and girls have a bigger share in the global prosperity.
The report entitled "Doubling Digital Opportunities: Enhancing the Inclusion of Women & Girls in the Information Society" shows that globally, 200 million fewer women are online than men. The report warns that the gap could grow to 350 million within the next three years if action is not taken.
Research highlighted in the report indicates that, in developing countries, every 10 per cent increase in access to broadband translates to a 1.38 per cent growth in gross domestic product (GDP). That means that bringing an additional 600 million women and girls online could boost global GDP by as much as US$18 billion.
The report also emphasises the importance of encouraging more girls to pursue ICT careers. By 2015, it is estimated that 90 per cent of formal employment across all sectors will require ICT skills. Professionals with computer science degrees can expect to earn salaries similar to doctors or lawyers – yet even in developed economies, women now account for fewer than 20 per cent of ICT specialists.
