A new report from the International Labour Organization (ILO), published on October 29, reveals that 708 million women worldwide are excluded from the workforce due to unpaid care responsibilities. This number is part of the new global estimates that highlight gender inequality in economic participation and were released in the context of the International Day of Care and Support.
According to the report titled The impact of care responsibilities on women’s labour force participation, in 2023, around 748 million people aged 15 and over were unable to work due to caregiving responsibilities, 95% of whom were women. The analysis, which included data from 125 countries, pointed out that women take on a disproportionate share of care responsibilities, including childcare, support for people with disabilities, and domestic tasks, compared to just 40 million men.
Regional Inequalities and Structural Challenges
The disparity is particularly significant in regions such as North Africa and Arab States, where 63% and 59% of women, respectively, are out of the workforce due to caregiving responsibilities. In contrast, regions like Eastern Europe show lower rates, with 11% of women citing caregiving as an obstacle to employment.
Sukti Dasgupta, director of the ILO’s Working Conditions and Equality Department, noted that barriers include low education levels, inadequate infrastructure, and restrictive social norms. “The way care is currently organized perpetuates gender inequalities that we need to tackle,” Dasgupta said.
The Resolution and the Future of the Care Economy
In response to these inequalities, the ILO approved a historic resolution on Decent Work and the Care Economy in June 2024, during the International Labour Conference. The document proposes measures to improve women’s participation and conditions in the formal economy, highlighting that a well-structured care economy not only benefits individuals and families but also boosts employment and productivity.
Gilbert F. Houngbo, director-general of the ILO, emphasized that “policies must remove barriers preventing women from entering and progressing in paid work and improve conditions for all who work in care provision.”
The data reinforces the need for robust investment in policies that facilitate the transition of millions of women into the workforce, promoting equity and social justice in the context of increasing demographic and climate change challenges.
11/04/2024
