The table illustrates the proportion of workers in six different sectors in New Zealand, classified according to gender, between 1993 and 2003.
Overall, female workers outnumbered their male counterparts in services and transport, and social services between 1993 and 2003. Among the six sectors surveyed, the majority of women worked in services and transport, while agricultural jobs were the most popular among men in 1993. However, over the next 10 years, services and transport sectors become the most popular for both genders. Additionally, the business and social services sectors experienced an upward trend in employment rates for both genders over the 10-year period.
In 1993, services and transport employed 53% of female workers, more than double that of males. Manufacturing and social services also exhibited a similar pattern, as female workers, accounting for 25% and 13% respectively, surpassed the figure for males by around 8%. In contrast, agriculture, business, and building sectors recorded significantly higher shares of male employment, with figures standing at 38%, 7%, and 12%, respectively—much higher than the corresponding female rates, which were under 10%.
Over the next 10 years, services and transport dominated the labor market, with the highest percentages of both female and male workers—36% and 31%, in turn. The business sector saw an increase in both male and female employment and became the second most popular, with around 22% of women and 25% of men. Manufacturing experienced a shift, with 17% of male workers surpassing females by 5%. Social services, on the other hand, showed a stronger female presence, with women making up 18% compared to just 9% for men. At the bottom of the list were agriculture and building, with workers in both fields ranging from 6% to 10%.