Gender Equality and Skills Development

Gender equality is a fundamental human right, but promoting gender equality is also justified by robust evidence on the benefits for the society: increasing female labour market participation boosts economic growth and sustainable development. Women are affected by lower labour market participation, pay gaps, and job segregation. TVET provides job-specific skills, improving employability and supporting a smoother transition from school to work, and as such, presents an opportunity for gender equality, - or a risk to perpetuate and reinforce gender inequalities. A comprehensive discussion on the TVET’s potential to promote gender equality is lacking. This literature review examines barriers and opportunities in TVET and skills development more generally and explores how development efforts can improve gender equality and employment outcomes.