Costa Rica’s Declining Labor Market
Recent statistics reveal a concerning trend: Costa Rica’s workforce is shrinking. Over the past year, a staggering 78,000 women exited the job market. This means that for every 10 Costa Ricans leaving the workforce, 8 are women. Such a pattern not only disrupts individual careers but also poses challenges for the nation’s overall productivity and economic health.
Why Women Are More Vulnerable
The reasons behind this significant female exit from the workforce are multifaceted. Women, compared to men, face a multitude of barriers when striving to maintain or seek employment. Key challenges include:
- Unpaid Tasks: Many women bear the primary responsibility for unpaid tasks such as childcare, managing households, and caring for dependents. This often restricts their availability for formal employment.
- Informal Jobs: Seeking greater flexibility, women frequently opt for informal positions, which can be unstable and lack benefits.
- Wage Disparity: A pervasive issue, women consistently earn less than their male counterparts for the same work.
According to a recent survey by the National Institute of Statistics and Census, from April to June, 92,280 individuals left the job market. Alarmingly, 84.6% of these were women.
A Beacon of Hope: Intel’s Approach
However, some companies are making conscious efforts to reverse this trend. Leading the charge is Intel. Their leadership model showcases a commendable 50-50 gender split. Furthermore, the company has upheld pay equity since 2019. With females comprising 25% of their technical workforce, Intel is keen on sparking increased interest among women in the realms of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
