Empowering Women to Achieve Economic Mobility

Nearly 58,000 women have completed Generation programs globally (54% of our total graduate population) since 2015. They have successfully launched careers in a wide range of fields (including technology, healthcare, green jobs, customer service, and skilled trades), are earning stable salaries, have gained promotions, and have transformed not only their own lives, but the lives of their families. Today, on International Women’s Day, we celebrate their success.

“On International Women’s Day, we celebrate the incredible stories of Generation women who face barriers yet defy them,” said Generation’s global CEO Mona Mourshed. “More than half of our graduates are women, and these tens of thousands of women are now making an impact across various fields, from technology and healthcare to skilled trades. Prior to Generation, only 8% were employed – 2-5 years later, 67% remain in work, a remarkable reversal of persistent unemployment. These women are shattering gender stereotypes and inspiring others by building successful careers and changing the economic reality for themselves and their families.”

Navigating a host of economic and workforce changes over the last few years, Generation women graduates have continued to make lasting improvements to their financial situation and well-being. In 2019, before entering Generation’s programs, only 8% of women were employed. Four years after completing the program, 67% remain employed. Only 21% could meet daily needs before they joined Generation, rising to 56% of women three years post-graduation. 

“My quality of life has massively improved. I can improve my son’s quality of life, and I still have money left over to support my parents and my grandmother financially.” – Natalia, Colombia

Unpaid domestic and care work falls disproportionately on women, restraining their potential to improve their economic mobility. According to a recent UN report, less than 50% of working-age women are in the labor market, a figure that has barely changed over the last quarter of a century. For instance, in Mexico, one of the countries where we offer programs, the workforce participation rate for women is 38.8%, one of the lowest rates in Latin America. 

“This job is a privilege, and I am so grateful for this opportunity! I work from home, yet I feel heard, valued, and respected. I also learn from colleagues I really admire!” – Mariana, Mexico

What’s more, women face particular barriers to entering high-paying, high-growth professions like those in the technology sector, where women make up only a fraction of employees. For instance, in Europe, women occupy only 22% of all tech roles across small, medium and large-sized European companies. In Latin America, women represent less than 30% of the people employed in the technology sector. In our tech programs across 17 countries, 45% of graduates are women and these professions offer particularly strong long-term opportunity – 84% of Generation women tech graduates remain employed 2-5 years after graduation and 55% are able to save for the future. 

“The tech world moves so fast, so the learning never stops, and that’s what excites me the most about it. I feel blessed to be where I am today thanks to Generation” – Sharon, Singapore

Learn more about the stories of Generation women who have transformed their lives through employment at the following link.