The table illustrates the employment patterns of males and females in New Zealand for the years 1993 and 2003 across six distinct sectors.
Overall, while there was a notable decline in male employment proportions in several sectors, female employment showed a general upward trend during the same period.
In 1993, the representation of men in various sectors was significant, with manufacturing, building, IT, and farming at 55%, 68%, 80%, and 75%, respectively. However, by 2003, these figures had diminished to 52%, 60%, 70%, and 65%. Conversely, the commerce sector began at 45% but experienced a moderate increase to 50%, while the services sector saw a remarkable increase from 14% in 1993 to 40% in 2003, indicating a notable shift towards service-oriented employment among men.
On the other hand, female employment patterns displayed an encouraging upward trajectory. In manufacturing, women’s representation rose from 45% in 1993 to 48% in 2003. The building sector saw an increase from 32% to 40%, while IT employment rose from 20% to 30%. Farming also noted a progression from 25% to 35%. Although commerce and services started strong at 55% and 85%, respectively, both sectors experienced a decline to 50% and 60% in 2003. This suggests a potential diversification in women’s employment avenues despite the reduction in these traditionally strong sectors.