Sir,
The recent Gender Inequality in Bhutan’s Private Sector report from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment reveals a troubling reality: women in the private sector are disproportionately concentrated in low-paying and insecure jobs.
Accommodation and food services, where women’s participation is highest, offer the lowest average wage of Nu 12,000—barely half of the Nu 22,000-plus earned in male-dominated sectors like energy and construction. Even more alarming, 61.6% of women are in insecure own-account work, without benefits or job security.
The report also points to a qualification mismatch. Women represent only 21% in high-paying STEM fields but 61% in lower-paying arts-related jobs, limiting career growth and perpetuating the wage gap.
With the civil service no longer able to absorb most graduates, the private sector is the main driver of job creation. Yet, without targeted intervention, women will remain trapped in undervalued roles.
The government and private sector must act on the report’s recommendations: scholarships for women in STEM, sector-specific minimum wages in undervalued industries, childcare and flexible work policies, and gender-friendly workplaces.
Economic growth is only sustainable when it is inclusive—Bhutan cannot afford to leave half its workforce behind.
