Still, the report points out that there is still a gender pay gap of 15%. Since 2011 there have been some gains towards women's economic empowerment in OCDE countries, but considerable progress is still needed to achieve gender equality at the workplace. For many expat women, decent and formal work is a distant dream. Although they are more well-educated than men, labour markets still channel them into works considered “traditionally acceptable for women”, usually related to domestic and service roles. Only a few reach upper-level positions in management and leadership.
Why do women tend to leave their countries to find jobs abroad?
Immigrant women are integral members of all nations, working across different industries and helping in economic growth. According to the International Labour Organization, Asian women make up the fastest-growing category of the world's migrants, 35 million. For the organization, women increasingly migrate to support their families, especially since the demand for maids and nurses continues to increase due to the Covid.
As the pandemic impact in economies continues to disproportionately affect women in the workforce in their home countries, immigration might increase as the borders reopen. According to the Gender and Migration report in the Migration Data Portal, in 2020, 48% of immigrants were women. Still, on the report, they might move abroad due to several reasons as lack of job opportunities, the pressure of gender expectations, ethnicity, race, age and class prejudices in their own country.
“My passion was to work within the creative industry. I wanted to move to England because I felt that I could have more opportunities there. I totally changed my field, from what I have studied, because it is still a very competitive area to get into,” says Livia Hartmann, a Brazilian and Spanish communicator who currently lives in the United Kingdom. However, she believes that there are greater opportunities for young women nowadays. “Companies are trying to be more inclusive and provide more opportunities for social minorities, especially in the UK. My race and gender are not an issue here, but I do think it can be scary to move abroad or to change career. On the other hand, it is always worth trying to find something that makes us feel more fulfilled.”
The so-called “feminine jobs”
Job positions related to “motherly and the stereotypical notions of feminine” as housework and domestic services are usually “reserved” for women. An airport survey in Sri Lanka revealed that 84 per cent of migrant workers were females, of whom the vast majority, 94 per cent, were domestic servants. Also, among the industries fuelling demand for Asian women, there is "entertainment," a frequent euphemism for prostitution.
Raquel Escalante is a Mexican au pair working in Germany. She graduated in digital marketing and worked for advertising agencies in the social media department, but her dream was always to live abroad. “I love my country, but I'm aware there's a lack of opportunities for women in my field (and without considering gender, there is a lack of opportunities in the field in general). Besides, moving abroad, I would have more opportunities to do something bigger by leaving my comfort zone.”
Raquel experienced a sexist trend of “women jobs” when going to Germany, “I was a girl, taking care of kids and helping in the house. I mean, in this job there are also the so-called “bro pairs” who make the same tasks as girls but they, as the name suggests, they are boys.” The term bro pair emphasizes that the category is unusual for men, and it indicates that although the term au pair is not feminine, the function is commonly performed by women". In Germany, Raquel found some offers in different work fields for all people regardless of their gender, in her own words, the European country has less “typical work for women” than Mexico.
Trending jobs and countries for women professionals
Raquel chose Germany because of the country's high-level education and fair cost of living. Also, she believes it is easier to get a better job and compensation in a communication career in Germany than in Mexico. In addition, Germany recognizes communication as a significant part of institutions and organizations, as there are great innovations, educational resources and advancements in the area. According to the International Trade Administration, the country has one of the largest Information and Communications Technology (ICT) markets in the world, with an estimate of 1.03 million employees in 2021.
The research on a Profile of Immigrant Women in the Workforce published last year points out the top five industries for immigrant women in the American workforce: health care and social assistance; accommodation and food services; educational services; retail trade; and manufacturing. The last three options could be a path for all women to challenge gender norms. By specializing in these fields, they could get over stereotypes while making progress.
Based on Women's Workplace Equality Index by the World Bank, there are 10 countries that are fully engaged in protecting women from violence, providing incentives to work, and eliminating barriers to jobs. No country gets a perfect score on women's workplace equality, but Australia came closest, with a score of 94.9 out of 100. The best countries for moving abroad as a woman professional are:
- Australia
- Canada
- New Zealand
- Spain
- Mexico
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- United Kingdom
- Lithuania
- Iceland
- Latvia
Although Germany is not on the list, Rachel's job as an au pair helped her to achieve her goals. “I could save money and finally work in something related to my university studies: social media.”
Is it worth changing careers as an expat woman?
Moving abroad can mean future change, with more possibilities and opportunities, and for Raquel, moving to Germany was a great choice. “Gender equality in higher positions is bigger here than from where I come. So I do feel I have a better shot, even if I'm making generalizations, to put myself in a good work position with fewer gender barriers than by trying it in my home country”, she comments.
Changing career paths as a woman expat doesn't have to be definitive, and it can be a tool in the short term to fight for and expect greater things in the future. “Right now, luckily, I found a work that is kind of the same I used to do, and this step will allow me to study a second degree and improve my professional skills and my career. None of this could happen without me leaving my country, leaving my career, and becoming an expat looking for a dream.”
