The OECD’s latest policy brief summarises key findings on the persistent gender gaps in paid and unpaid work, from their report Gender equality in a changing world: taking stock and moving forward, identifying relevant social, economic and institutional factors preventing gender equality. This report presents a thorough stocktaking of gender equality outcomes and policies across EU and OECD countries using extensive existing datasets and new data collection and policy mapping.

The data reveals that, compared to men, women have lower employment rates, are more likely to work part-time, spend fewer hours to paid work, and spend more hours in unpaid work. They found that differences in women’s and men’s outcomes reflect gender norms and stereotypes about paid and unpaid work, which interact with social, policy and economic environments to disadvantage women in the labour market.

To close these gender gaps, the OECD urges governments to commit to (or advance upon) commitments to work-life balance policies and equal pay and pay transparency policies, among other gender-equality measures.