The overall disparity between men and women in China in terms of professional equality has continued to narrow, reports China Daily, citing data from job board Zhaopin. The report showed that the salary gap between men and women has been shrinking for two years. However, despite a 5% year-on-year improvement, the average salary for working women is still 12% lower than for men. "The salary difference is mainly due to the positions that men and woman generally fill," said Zhaopin CEO Guo Sheng. Zhaopin adds that education has helped women win higher positions and increase their recognition at their workplaces, making them a force to be reckoned with in the overall job market. Survey data found that 42% of female workers who participated said they had a bachelor's degree or higher, 6.7% higher than the male participants.

It also found that women are in an uphill battle against inequality as discrimination in the job market continues due to issues including marriage and children. Zhaopin said that more than 55% of female workers surveyed were asked about their marriages and plans to have children during interviews, more than twice the rate for male participants. Approximately 15% of women surveyed were optimistic about future promotions, 2.9% lower than the surveyed men, due to their concerns about their marriage.