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Media Release
World of Work Insights
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Underworked Solution: Women and the Talent Crunch
In the midst of a global financial crisis, business leaders need to have a plan in place to prepare for the
inevitable recovery. This means they must understand and address the implications of the talent shortage.
Already, many organisations are scrambling to find the skilled workers they need; and that situation will only
worsen as we emerge from the recession.
In response to this, Manpower Inc. has released their inaugural World of Work Insights paper titled “The
Underworked Solution: Women and the Talent Crunch”. As a world leader in employment services,
Manpower is calling on government and corporate leaders to recognise that increased employment of
women will be critical to future growth and to remove barriers facing women in the workplace, particularly
those that make it difficult for women to balance the demands of work and family. Leaders need to act now
if Australia is to be competitive after the current recession ends.
It is a fact that women are underrepresented in the workforce. In Australia, men outnumber women in
managerial and administrative jobs by more than three to one and women comprise just 13 per cent of
generalist managers and 27 per cent of specialist manager positions. “The Underworked Solution: Women
and the Talent Crunch” highlights how encouraging and supporting women in the labour force can help to fill
gaps both now and as we emerge from the current turbulence. The paper also notes that the changes
needed to raise the participation level of women now will serve to attract younger workers, who also seek
flexibility and work-life balance from their employers.
Key findings:
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Policies should not reinforce an obsolete work structure so pay, benefits, security and
retirement rules must move away from the 40 hour working week towards true flexibility.
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Organisations and governments can’t do it all. Through training and further education
women can help themselves to progress in the changing world of work.
Manpower Australia and New Zealand has four high-profile women on their Senior Leadership Team. Two
of these senior executives are available to offer advice to both employers and employees about the world of
work in the current economic situation and the post-crisis world, as well as outline why women are a very
real solution to many of the coming challenges. Contact details of two of these senior executives are
highlighted below.
A copy of the Manpower paper “The Underworked Solution: Women and the Talent Crunch” is available for
-End-
For further information please contact:
Susan Howse, General Manager, Strategic Client Solutions, Phone: +61-2-9263-8662; Email:
showse@manpower.com.au
Natasha Olsson-Seeto, General Manager, Executive & Commercial, Manpower Professional,
Phone: +61-7-3407-3120; Email: n.olsson-seeto@manpowerprofessional.com.au
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Media Release
About Manpower Inc.
Manpower Inc. (NYSE: MAN) is a world leader in the employment services industry; creating and delivering services
that enable its clients to win in the changing world of work. Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2008, the $21 billion
company offers employers a range of services for the entire employment and business cycle including permanent,
temporary and contract recruitment; employee assessment and selection; training; outplacement; outsourcing and
consulting. Manpower's worldwide network of 4,500 offices in 80 countries and territories enables the company to meet
the needs of its 400,000 clients per year, including small and medium size enterprises in all industry sectors, as well as
the world's largest multinational corporations. The focus of Manpower's work is on raising productivity through improved
quality, efficiency and cost-reduction across their total workforce, enabling clients to concentrate on their core business
activities. Manpower Inc. operates under five brands: Manpower, Manpower Professional, Elan, Jefferson Wells and
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