International Women's Day 2023

In 2022, Australia was ranked 43rd in the World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Index, with a gender pay gap of 14.1%. According to the 2022 Report, another generation of women will have to wait for gender parity. As the impact of the pandemic continues to be felt, closing the global gender gap has increased by a generation from 99.5 years to 134 years. That means that it is highly likely that a girl born today, even if she lives to be over 100, will not see gender parity in her lifetime.

International Women’s Day is a day to celebrate and recognise the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, however it is also an opportunity to make a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

At Fitted for Work, we help women experiencing disadvantage to find work, keep work and thrive in their careers. We believe every woman has the right to economic security. Since 2005, we have helped over 40,000 women. On average, women find work in just 73 days of accessing our services. We focus on employment because economic independence is an enabler for women to exercise control over their lives. Work provides security, choice, social connection, and dignity. We believe that when a woman is fitted for work, she is fitted for life.

This international Women’s Day, you can make a difference by supporting Fitted for Work, either as an individual or as an organisation, in the following ways:

This International Women’s Day #EmbraceEquity by taking action to help women gain employment and achieve financial independence.

When you lift the economic status of women, it’s good for all of us. Increasing women’s workforce participation leads to better living standards for individuals and families, improves the bottom line of businesses and is a significant driver of national economic growth.

A 2012 report by the Grattan Institute suggests that increasing the workforce participation rates of women by just 6% would increase Australia’s GDP by $25 billion.

That’s why when you make an investment in Fitted for Work, you’re investing in Australia’s future.

The UN Women theme, ‘Cracking the Code’ highlights the role that bold, transformative ideas, inclusive technologies, and accessible education can play in addressing discrimination and the marginalisation of women globally.

“Innovation is a driver of change and by embracing new technologies and championing the unique skills and knowledge of women in science, technology, mathematics, and engineering (STEM), we can accelerate our progress towards a gender equal future.”

Fitted for Work and Microsoft are working together to help women gain confidence to start their digital learning journey and develop the skills and tools they need to thrive in a digital economy. Through the partnership, women coming through Fitted for Work services have access to Microsoft Upskilling courses, as well as training and career coaching, to prepare them for a more digital economy.

Find out more about how Fitted for Work and Microsoft are helping women Power Up.