The Gender Imbalance of Care Work

Data from the International Labour Organization shows that some sectors remain highly gendered in the workplace. This is particularly true in terms of occupations related to childcare, nursing and midwifery, as well as work in nursing homes and in private households, where domestic workers are employed.

Meanwhile, an estimated 708 million women worldwide are outside the labour force because of unpaid care responsibilities, according to ILO estimates. Both of these figures highlight the gender disparity between the roles that women take on in terms of care responsibilities, from child-rearing to housekeeping, as well as providing support for persons with disabilities and those in need of long-term care.