世界银行-_太平洋经济更新_2025年6月_雇用妇女_赋予太平洋权力——应对不确定时期的战略（英）-2025_83页_10mb

Pacific Economic Update Summary

Overview

Report Focus

The World Bank's Pacific Economic Update addresses the Pacific Island Countries' (PIC-11) economic challenges amid global uncertainty. It highlights supply-side policies to increase female labor force participation (FLFP) to boost economic resilience and growth.

Primary Objectives

• Analyze economic trends and risks in PIC-11.
• Focus on enhancing female workforce participation, with an emphasis on the energy sector.

Part 1: Economic Overview

1.1 Global Economic Context

Growth and Outlook

• Economic Growth: The PIC-11 growth slowed from 5.5% in 2023 to 3.8% in 2024 and is projected to decelerate to 2.6% in 2025.
• Breakdown by country shows varying trends, with Fiji being the largest contributor to regional growth.

Inflation

• Inflation decreased to a median rate of 4.2% in 2024, still above pre-pandemic levels.
• Many countries experienced cost-of-living pressures due to reliance on imported commodities.

1.2 Fiscal and Debt Dynamics

Fiscal Positions

• Public debt decreased in most PIC-11 countries due to fiscal consolidation efforts.
• Sovereign rent-led countries face challenges from volatile revenues and high aid dependency.

Monetary Policy

• Central banks maintained accommodative policies to manage inflation and support economic recovery.

1.3 Risks and Challenges

Exogenous Risks

• Trade Policy Uncertainty: Tariff increases and supply chain disruptions threaten economic stability.
• Aid Volatility: High dependency on donor countries makes PIC-11 vulnerable to policy shifts in donor nations.
• Climate Events: Natural disasters impose significant economic costs, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities.

Part 2: Enhancing Female Workforce Participation

2.1 Context

Gender Employment Gap

• Female labor force participation in PIC-11 is 53.7%, compared to 64.9% for males.
• Research indicates that closing the gender employment gap could increase long-term GDP per capita by up to 37% in some countries.

Energy Sector Focus

• The energy sector employs fewer women (avg. 18.6%) and lacks diversity in technical and management roles.
• Addressing barriers in the energy sector can unlock significant economic potential.

2.2 Understanding Barriers

Key Challenges

• Lack of gender-sensitive policies, including limited family-friendly measures and absence of childcare support.
• Societal norms discourage women from entering male-dominated fields, particularly in technical roles.
• Workplace environments often exclude women due to safety concerns and lack of inclusive facilities.

2.3 Proposed Solutions

Policy Recommendations

1. Close Skills/Education Gaps

   • Enhance STEM education and vocational training for women.
   • Strengthen public-private partnerships to create structured pathways into energy careers.

2. Restructure Care Responsibilities

   • Implement paid parental leave and affordable childcare services.
   • Promote shared caregiving responsibilities to reduce women’s work-life conflicts.

3. Ensure Equal Rights and Protections

   • Enact anti-discrimination laws and prohibit gender-based workplace harassment.
   • Foster inclusive workplace cultures through mentorship programs.

Conclusion

The Pacific Economic Update underscores the need for supply-side policies to boost female labor force participation as a critical driver of economic resilience and sustainable growth. Addressing structural barriers, from education to workplace inclusivity, is essential for unlocking the region’s untapped potential and mitigating risks posed by global uncertainty and climate-related events.