“We must pick up the pace toward economic, climate, and gender justice, and transition to a care society.” – Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
Despite decades of progress, economic inequality remains a harsh reality for women worldwide. On average, women still earn 20% less than men, and nearly 60% of women in low-income countries work in the informal economy without job security, paid leave, or social protection. This lack of economic security leaves women more vulnerable to poverty, exploitation, and financial instability.
Beyond paid employment, women also perform unpaid care work at disproportionately high rates, doing three times more care and domestic work than men. This often-invisible labour is the backbone of economies, keeping households and societies running but at a cost to women, as it limits their engagement in education, income generation and community leadership.
Addressing these deep-rooted inequalities requires urgent action. A care society that prioritises fair access to resources for all, while respecting the planet and recognising the vital role of unpaid care work.
Yet, with nearly 40% of countries seeing gender equality stall or decline between 2019 and 2022, progress is not happening fast enough. Closing these gaps requires transformative and targeted action including:
- Supporting enabling policies and legal frameworks including unpaid care policies and provision of care services and infrastructure
- Data and evidence collection for advocacy to eliminate discriminatory social norms and practices
- Policy dialogues on the care agenda and its implications for women’s economic empowerment
- Shifting from a framework that recognises, reduces and redistributes unpaid care work to one that also rewards and represents paid care and domestic work. This is also called the 5R framework (Recognise, Reduce and Redistribute unpaid care and domestic work and Reward and Represent paid care and domestic work).1
The Equalities Resource Hub provides essential research, tools, and guidance to help close the gender gap and build an economy that values all contributions – paid and unpaid. Explore our resources and be part of the change.