A. M. As part of Women’s Month, the International Labor Organization (ILO) published a report that highlights the progress and challenges in terms of gender equity in the labor market. Although the employment gap between women and men has narrowed over the last three decades, it remains significant. In 2024, only 46.4% of working-age women are employed, compared to 69.5% of men, and at the current rate, achieving equal employment rates could take nearly two centuries.
Despite young women’s increasing access to education and training, this has not translated into greater participation in the labor market. Barely 30% of managerial positions worldwide are held by women, with modest progress in the last 20 years. Moreover, women continue to predominate in low-paying sectors such as nursing and childcare, while men dominate areas such as transportation and mechanics.
The report also highlights that while there has been progress in reducing the wage gap, it remains significant. In 2024, women will earn on average 77.4 cents for every dollar earned by men, an improvement from 70.1 cents in 2004. However, women continue to accumulate fewer hours of paid work and are overrepresented in informal employment, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
Sukti Dasgupta, director of the ILO’s Conditions of Work and Equality Department, emphasized the need for urgent reforms to ensure fair working conditions for women. Among the remaining challenges, she mentioned unequal care responsibilities, wage differentials and violence in the work environment, factors that perpetuate insecurity and gender discrimination at work.
The report stresses that structural inequalities, discriminatory social norms, and inadequate economic policies continue to limit women’s employment opportunities. To achieve real progress, the ILO urges governments and businesses to implement inclusive policies that encourage women’s access to decent and equitable jobs, promoting a safer and fairer work environment for all.
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