Unpaid caregiving responsibilities continue to prevent 708 million women worldwide from entering the workforce, according to a recent report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Released in observance of the International Day of Care and Support, this report highlights how the disproportionate share of care responsibilities borne by women creates significant barriers to their economic participation, reinforcing gender inequalities in employment.
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Global Impact of Unpaid Care Work
The ILO’s global estimates, drawn from data across 125 countries, reveal that in 2023, nearly 748 million people aged 15 and older were excluded from the labor force due to caregiving duties. Of this total, a staggering 95%—approximately 708 million—are women, underscoring the disparity in caregiving burdens between genders. In contrast, only 40 million men cited care responsibilities as a barrier to employment, with men more likely to attribute non-participation in the workforce to education or health concerns.
The report notes that societal expectations and limited access to affordable caregiving services exacerbate the challenges women face. As economies grow and populations age, the demand for caregiving is expected to increase, putting further strain on women already disproportionately engaged in unpaid care work.
Barriers to Workforce Participation for Women
The findings point to a complex web of factors affecting women’s ability to enter and remain in the workforce. Care responsibilities such as child-rearing, supporting disabled family members, and managing household tasks emerge as primary obstacles. According to the report, two-thirds of women aged 25 to 54 are out of the workforce primarily because of these duties, with the impact being more severe for women with lower education levels or those in rural areas, where resources are scarcer.
Sukti Dasgupta, Director of the ILO’s Conditions of Work and Equality Department, highlighted that these barriers contribute to widening economic disparities, with women often missing out on career opportunities, economic security, and financial independence. “Women shoulder a disproportionate share of care responsibilities, limiting their access to the labor market due to factors such as limited infrastructure, lack of job opportunities, rural residence, and inadequate support systems,” Dasgupta explained.
Regional Variations in Workforce Exclusion Due to Care Work
The impact of unpaid caregiving on women’s labor force participation varies significantly across regions. In Northern Africa, 63% of women outside the labor force cite caregiving as the primary reason for their non-participation, followed closely by 59% in the Arab States. Asia and the Pacific report 52%, with the figure varying little within subregions. In Latin America and the Caribbean, 47% of women outside the workforce attribute it to caregiving, compared to just 19% in Northern America. In Europe and Central Asia, Eastern Europe reports the lowest rate globally at only 11%, reflecting regional differences in social support and labor policies.
These disparities highlight how cultural, economic, and policy factors influence the caregiving landscape, with countries offering more supportive care policies and infrastructure seeing lower female workforce exclusion rates.
The Urgent Need for a Global Care Economy
The ILO report emphasizes the need for policies that support caregiving as an essential component of the global economy. As the demand for care grows with demographic shifts, the creation of a robust care economy—including affordable, accessible care services and improved family support infrastructure—is critical for fostering gender equality in the workplace. Addressing this issue is not only a matter of economic inclusion but also of social justice, as women across the world face limited career opportunities due to unpaid caregiving.
Expanding investment in care services, improving labor laws, and challenging traditional gender norms are among the recommendations provided by the ILO to improve women’s access to paid employment. Such measures could provide women with greater financial independence and reduce the economic impact of caregiving on their lives.
Moving Toward a More Inclusive Workforce
The ILO’s findings call attention to the pressing need for global action to address gender disparities in the workforce by recognizing unpaid caregiving as a significant factor. As economies develop, prioritizing support for caregiving could help close the gender gap in labor force participation and create a more equitable and inclusive economy.
For more detailed insights, you can access the original report from the ILO here.
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