INVESTIGATING SKILL LEVELS AND EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS FOR ONLINE WORK AMONG WOMENIN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Due to rapid digitalization and the onset of COVID-19, freelance home-based work has become more common, which puts forth the prospects for women entering the digital world to earn their livelihoods just as much as their male counterpart. This study explores how women come into this picture and what the barriers are in their way, so they can be overcome to enable the contribution of young women in the realm of online work. The study adopts a mixed methods approach making use of both quantitative and qualitative data. The data has been gathered on online employment of young women in Pakistan and relevant skills to be analyzed through a survey and interviews of applicants conducted online through an online employment community known as Goodwork. For quantitative analysis, descriptive and inferential statistical tests are run on survey results. On the other hand, for qualitative analysis, thematic and exploratory analyses of interview responses are conducted, in light of the quantitative findings, to uncover barriers to online work for women so that plausible solutions can be deduced to eliminate the gender-based digital divide. This study puts forth that there exists a two-way relation between online work attainment and prior work experience for women. Also, that a partial correlation exists between online work and economic factors for women (with no dependence on household income, and dependence on personal income levels of women). Lastly, a rather strong correlation exists between online work and online skills. Socio-cultural conditions and individual motivations of women are also correlated with online work attainment, in terms of findings, accessing, and growing within the realm of online marketplace. All of these factors in unison, whilst being viewed through an intersectional lens, put forth ways as to how online skill development can empower women granting them access to online work at the comfort of their homes which, at large, benefits not only them but the society as a whole by stimulating more participation and revenue generation in the country’s economy.