The UN report on “Progress of The World’s Women, 2019-2020” presents a concerning picture regarding married women’s participation in the global labour force. More than half of the married women between the ages of 25 and 54, according to the International Labour Organization data, are not part of the workforce.
The Role of Families and Other Institutions in Care Provision
Families are often the central providers of care, with other institutions and actors such as paid domestic workers, community childcare centres, and municipality-run care homes for older individuals supplementing them. However, when these services are either inadequate or unavailable, the burden typically falls back on women and girls, further reducing their ability to participate in the labour force.
Regional Differences in Women’s Labour Force Participation
The report highlights stark differences across regions. Married or unionized women’s labour force participation is notably low in Central and Southern Asia at just 29.1%. In contrast, rates are much higher in Sub-Saharan Africa (73.8%), Europe and Northern America (78.2%), and Latin America and the Caribbean (60.3%). Remarkably, Sub-Saharan Africa is the only region where married or unionized women participate more in the labour force than single or never married women.
| Region | Participation Rate (%) |
|---|---|
| Central and Southern Asia | 29.1 |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | 73.8 |
| Europe and Northern America | 78.2 |
| Latin America and the Caribbean | 60.3 |
Impact of Gender Norms and Motherhood on Labour Force Participation
Typically, traditional gender norms that relegate childcare and domestic work to women while casting men as the breadwinners are responsible for disparate outcomes. For example, women with young children under six tend to have labour force participation reduced by 5.9 percentage points worldwide, while men’s participation increases by 3.4 percentage points.
Interestingly, in low-income countries, motherhood did not negatively impact women’s labour force participation as much as in middle- and high-income countries. This could be due to poverty forcing women to join or remain in the labour force to support their families even when caring for young children.
Declining Women’s Labour Force Participation in Developing Economies
Despite significant economic growth, India and China have experienced a troubling decrease in women’s labour force participation. Between 1997 and 2018, the number of women in the workforce in India fell by 6.9 percentage points, one of the largest drops globally.
Quality of Work and Financial Dependence
The quality of available paid work and the prevalence of unpaid domestic chores significantly influence women’s labour force participation rates. The report found that only 26% (according to the Demographic and Health Survey) and 17% (according to the National Sample Survey Organization) of women between 15-49 years old earn a wage. This leaves the majority financially dependent on spouses, fathers, in-laws, or extended relatives.
Recommendations: Building Equality at Home and in Workforce
To address these issues, the report recommends building national care systems that equally distribute care responsibilities between women and men, and between families and other institutions. These systems should provide time via paid maternity and parental leave, cash benefits for self-employed workers, and services to support care work. Additionally, they should also cater to those who care for disabled or older family members.
Further public investment in professional care-related services, early childhood education, and long-term care for people living with disabilities and older persons is also recommended. These investments not only ensure the dignity and rights of vulnerable populations but also create decent employment opportunities in the care sector.