Gender gaps in paid and unpaid work persist.  We know this from numerous studies and reports, and its an international phenomenon across the OECD. Compared to men, women on average have lower employment rates, are more likely to work part-time, spend fewer hours to paid work, and spend more hours in unpaid work. This negatively affects their earnings, career prospects and social protection entitlements, including pension income.

Every person should be able to participate fully in the labour market. Yet gender norms and stereotypes, social and policy environments, structural barriers, bias and harassment, and discrimination combine to create gender gaps between women and men in labour market outcomes, including in the type, quality, quantity and remuneration of paid and unpaid work.

Differences in women’s and men’s outcomes reflect gender norms and stereotypes around paid and unpaid work, which interact with social, policy and economic environments to disadvantage women in the labour market. These include unequal distributions of family leave; inadequate access to affordable, good-quality childcare and out-of-school care; poor access to long-term care for relatives; low pay in traditionally women-dominated sectors; and gendered tax-benefit systems that disadvantage second earners (more commonly women).

Gender equality is a strategic priority for the OECD and is mainstreamed in its work. The OECD regularly monitors progress and policy developments supporting gender equality in member and partner countries.  Statistics and charts provide country comparisons, including that Australian women’s rate of unpaid work compared to Australian men is the third worst of the countries listed Figure 5.5.

Chapter 5 of the OECD report Gender Equality in a Changing World: Taking Stock and Moving Forward 2025 is focussed on paid and unpaid work. It identifies social, economic and institutional factors preventing gender equality, then proposes policy options to reduce gender gaps in paid and unpaid work.  The OECD has produced a policy brief summarising the key findings of Chapter 5.

Despite significant progress over the last century, women still fare worse than men in most economic, social and political outcomes in EU and OECD countries. This report presents a comprehensive stocktaking of how women, men, girls and boys are faring across 7 key policy areas – education and skills, paid and unpaid work, leadership and representation, health, gender-based violence, the green transition and the digital transitions. The challenges are significant.  It presents countries’ good practices in gender mainstreaming, encourages breaking down silos, and identifies useful policy combinations to advance gender equality.