Women make up 50% of the global population but under 40% of the global labour force, according to the World Bank. Increasingly more countries are recognising this mismatch and urging corporations to take necessary steps to attract women to the workforce and tap lost potential.

Many studies have found that a diverse workforce can help drive innovation, creativity and productivity. To quote one, a McKinsey report found that a company with diverse staffing outperforms a non-diverse one by 15% (gender diverse) and 35% (ethnically diverse). Beyond increased performance, diverse staffing is a step towards fulfilling the ‘Social’ element of many companies’ ESG strategies.

But what can be done to make workplaces more inclusive and inviting for women?

Savills conducted its Office Fit survey across Europe, Middle East and Africa and found there to be significant differences in gender preferences for certain office amenities. 

Whilst men prioritised facilities such as shower areas, car parking, bicycle storage, and charge points for electric vehicles, women tended to prioritise security, personal safety, the ability to open windows, and recycling options.

Nearly 90% of female respondents ranked personal safety as an important feature to include in office spaces, which will be key in current and future office spaces as workers return to the office. Furthermore, nearly 75% of women ranked building security as important to their office experience.

In the Middle East, interesting and encouraging trends are being observed in countries such as Saudi Arabia. Within the Kingdom, only in the last half a decade have rules eased for women, including removing the ban on driving, to enable greater participation in activities that support the economy. In a span of four years, the participation of women in the Saudi workforce nearly doubled from a little over 18% in Q2 2017 to nearly 34% in Q2 2021. Simple changes to workplace amenities, such as the introduction of female bathrooms, have only been implemented within the last five years.

But much is now changing, as the government has prioritised the need to increase women’s participation in the workforce in its broader Vision 2030 modernisation and diversification strategy. On its part, Savills Saudi Arabia aims to achieve an equal headcount split between men and women in its offices by the end of 2023. 

Catering to the key segment of working mothers, office developments in Saudi Arabia are making it a priority to include a daycare centre as part of their amenities to offer support. Daycare centres are already mandatory in shopping centres and with rising demand, they may soon become a must-have feature in office buildings.   

The kingdom’s neighbour, UAE, also recently revised labour laws to further benefit women. Extended maternity leaves, equal pay for women and men performing the same duties and anti-harassment and anti-discrimination provisions have all been introduced to further empower women.

Further insights from our research on women’s labour force participation in countries around the world can be found here.