Dive Brief:
- A Boston Consulting Group (BCG) study found that 55% of women would work overseas. However, less than a third have done so, compared with 40% of men in a similar situation. BCG says working abroad prepares people for leadership roles in today’s global job market.
- The study also shows that having children isn’t a deterrent to women working overseas; 44% of women with children in the study said they would do so if they had the chance.
- Claire Tracey, BCG partner, and the report’s co-author, said, “[International assignments] give [employees] a holistic picture of an organization’s total operations, making them great candidates for future leadership roles.”
Dive Insight:
The BCG report confirms that the gender gap in employment, and in this case, the global job market, persists. One roadblock for women workers generally has been the "motherhood penalty" — the assumption that motherhood jeopardizes their chances for advancement.
For professional women of color, the roadblock often has been the assumption — unconscious or otherwise — that their skills, knowledge and experience are inadequate, especially on a global level.
The gender gap often fuels the pay gap between women and men workers. When segments of the workforce are denied opportunities, or relegated to lower-level, lower-paid positions, closing the pay gap remains challenging.
Companies that routinely recruit for overseas positions will need to have a strong grasp of those traits which experts say prepare candidates for expatriate and international roles. They include mental/emotional stability, sensitivity to other cultures and above average interpersonal skills.