Gender equality in employment would take nearly two centuries, says ILO
Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - Thirty years after the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which set ambitious equality goals, women still face significant barriers in the labour market, says the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Despite the reduction in the gender employment gap from 27.1 to 23.1 percentage points since 1991, women's employment rates remain well below those of men, the ILO said in a briefing entitled “Women and the Economy: 30 years after the Beijing Declaration”, published in the run-up to International Women's Day, which is observed each year on 8 March.
More and more young women are pursuing studies
By 2024, only 46.4% of working-age women were employed, compared to 69.5% of men. At the current rate of progress, it would take nearly two centuries to achieve equality in employment rates.
Although more and more young women are pursuing education and training, this has not translated into significant advances in the labour market. Women hold only 30% of managerial positions worldwide, with modest improvement over the last twenty years.
They remain overrepresented in low-paid sectors, such as nursing and child care, while men dominate fields such as transport and mechanics. In addition, women earn lower wages on average, work fewer paid hours and are more likely to work informally, particularly in low- and lower-middle-income countries.
Reducing the pay gap
On the other hand, progress has been made in closing the gender pay gap. In 2024, women in employment – whether salaried or self-employed – earned 77.4 cents for every dollar earned by a man, still a large gap but an improvement from 70.1 cents in 2004.
“Three decades after world leaders gathered in Beijing and committed to advancing women’s rights, significant challenges remain in implementing the Beijing Declaration,” said Sukti Dasgupta, Director of the ILO’s Conditions of Work and Equality Department.
“Despite progress, millions of women continue to face persistent barriers to entering, remaining in and progressing in decent work. Urgent reforms are needed to address inequalities in family responsibilities, the gender pay gap, and violence and harassment at work – all of which perpetuate unfair and unsafe workplaces for women,” she added.
Decent working conditions
The ILO brief highlights global trends in employment and working conditions for women and men, emphasising persistent inequalities, often exacerbated by factors such as migration status or disability.
It also highlights the systemic barriers that hinder women's access to employment and decent working conditions. These challenges reflect deep structural inequalities, discriminatory social norms and economic policies that do not sufficiently take into account the differentiated needs of women and men.
According to the ILO, as a pillar of global efforts for women's empowerment and emancipation, the Beijing Platform for Action remains a powerful lever for influencing policies and legislation that promote social and economic progress. In an era of digital, environmental and demographic change, its vision is more relevant than ever.
-0- PANA MA 7March2025
