International Journal of Business and Social Science Vol. 5, No. 6(1); May 2014 29 The Importance of the Open and Distance Education in terms of the Women's Preferences of Professional Field and the Women Employment 1 Seda Tekeli Anadolu University Faculty of Economy Department of Labor Economics Eskisehir Turkey Güler Günsoy Anadolu University Faculty of Economy Department of Economics Eskisehir Turkey Abstract As it is constantly stressed, nowadays, the educated Labor force is the most important human capital factor that is effective for reducing the poverty by having positive impact on the labor supply, the labor force participation rate, the labor gains, the gender-based inequality problems, the employment and thereby the economic growth, economic development and human development. In the economic context, the socio- cultural exogeneity arising with especially the education of women that creates individual and societal gaining is the effective in solving lots of problems related with women based gender inequalities. The education of women has positive influence on the efficiency and the growth. In addition, the level of education is an important factor effecting the participation of women into labor force and the employment. The education, especially the vocational education, is seen as one of the tools that increase the human capitals of women. In this context, the providing of the education by the institutions of formal education and distance education is influential on ensuring the getting a profession and the becoming skilful. In this regard, open learning and distance education have an important and wide position in providing the necessary training for facilitating of women’s choices of professional field selection and the registered employment of women. In this sense, demographic characteristics and programs (graduated or continuing) of women that benefit from Anadolu University Open and Distance Learning System going to be put forth and their occupational choices will be evaluated. After that evaluation, the importance of open and distance learning on clearing holdbacks in front of women’s education will be tried to be explained. Keywords: Education, Open and Distance Education, Employment, Employment of Women 1. Introduction Various past theories one economic growth have emphasized that saving, physical capital, human capital, knowledge, technological progress and research–development activities are essential factors in promoting economic growth and explaining economic progress. In particular, education and all education-oriented activities and investments are required for the accumulation of human capital. The role of human capital in the growth process is undoubtedly crucial. In this context, the importance of human capital in economic growth and the relationship between human capital and education were examined in studies by Schultz (1961), Solow (1956), Nelson and Pelps (1966), Becker (1964), Denison (1964), Romer (1986), Rebelo (1992), Barro and Lee (1992), Lucas (1988), Mankiw Romer and Weil (1992), Barro and Sala-i Martin (1995). 1 This paper, presented at IDEC-2012 (International Distance Education Conference-2012) (13-15 December 2012) in United Arab Emirates-Dubai, is the state's re-arranged.