According to the results of the Graduate Quality Index (GQI) study, female graduates of higher education institutions in Uzbekistan find jobs faster than men, but their average earnings are significantly lower than those of men.
The study covered the employment situation of graduates in the labor market and presented the following data: 85.1% of female graduates were able to find employment, while this figure was 80.4% among men. The time required for employment also differs: women require an average of about two months, while men require about three.
A significant difference appears when comparing income levels. The average salary among male graduates reaches approximately 6 million soms, whereas for women it is 3.9 million soms. This creates a gap of about 2.1 million soms.
Furthermore, GQI identified differences in priority employment sectors for both genders. Among the five fields where women show the best results in the labor market, transport, mathematics and statistics, education, business and management, and humanities are listed. Men's top five include business and management, healthcare, arts, mathematics and statistics, and information and communication technologies.
The study authors emphasize that the figures presented reflect the general picture for all graduates and do not indicate the existence of such an income gap in every specific profession or with every employer.
It was also noted that starting September 1st, salaries for employees of state institutions in Uzbekistan increased by 7%, as well as scholarships. This increase applied to payments effective from September, unlike pensions and benefits, which were increased earlier, starting July 1st.
