The Persistent Challenges of Women in the Global Workforce
Despite significant progress toward gender equality, women continue to face systemic barriers in the workplace. These challenges include unpaid labor, sexual harassment, violence, and low wages, which disproportionately affect women globally. The International Labor Organization (ILO) highlights that men still dominate high-paying positions across industries, while women are often relegated to lower-paying roles or informal work.
The issue is not just about pay but also about access and recognition. Women are frequently excluded from formal employment opportunities, forced into precarious jobs, or pushed into the informal economy. This exclusion is exacerbated by deeply ingrained gender norms that dictate which types of work are suitable for women. As a result, many women must create their own income-generating activities to survive.
The Informal Economy and Its Impact on Women
According to the ILO, nearly 60% of all workers globally are engaged in informal employment, with a majority being women in the Global South. This type of work includes street vending, domestic labor, and day labor, among others. While informal work is prevalent in developing economies, it is also a significant part of advanced economies. However, these jobs often lack legal protections, stable income, and social benefits.
In the formal sector, women are underrepresented in leadership roles and often confined to traditionally female-centric jobs. For example, women make up 67% of the global health and social care workforce but hold only 25% of leadership positions in the sector. This disparity limits the diversity of perspectives in decision-making processes and hinders societal progress.
The Invisible Burden of Care Work
Unpaid care work remains one of the most significant barriers preventing women from participating fully in the labor market. According to the ILO, around 708 million women worldwide were unable to enter the labor force in 2023 due to unpaid care responsibilities. This invisible work, which includes childcare, eldercare, and household chores, is often undervalued and unacknowledged in traditional economic measures.
Domestic work, in particular, is frequently seen as a woman’s role, even when it is paid. However, safety risks are often overlooked, as domestic workers operate in homes rather than traditional workplaces. This lack of regulation leaves many women vulnerable to exploitation and unsafe conditions.
Risks and Vulnerabilities Faced by Women at Work
Women face greater risks and vulnerabilities in the workplace, especially in the informal economy. Jobs such as domestic work, factory labor, and agriculture expose them to hazards like toxic chemicals, extreme physical strain, and prolonged sun exposure. Additionally, gender-based violence and sexual harassment remain pervasive issues in many workplaces.
In Cambodia, for instance, a 2017 study found that almost one in three women garment factory workers reported experiencing sexual harassment, leading to decreased productivity and significant financial losses for employers. These issues highlight the urgent need for stronger protections and policies to address gender-based violence in the workplace.
The Future of Work and Gender Disparities
The rise of artificial intelligence and climate change are further disrupting the labor market, with women disproportionately affected. Women are more likely to hold low-skill positions that are at risk of automation, and climate change exacerbates existing inequalities by placing a heavier burden on women during extreme weather events.
Moreover, women tend to work longer hours than men due to limited access to social benefits such as sick leave, unemployment pay, and pensions. In the UK, for example, women retire with significantly less pension savings than men, leaving them financially vulnerable in their later years.
Solutions and Progress
Experts suggest that investing in the care economy, changing cultural attitudes toward care work, and strengthening workers’ rights are essential steps toward improving conditions for women. Recognizing care work as a public good could lead to better support systems and reduce the financial burden on women.
An example of this approach is seen in Bogotá, Colombia, where a program teaches men basic care skills to help redistribute household responsibilities. Over 400,000 people have benefited from the initiative, and surveys indicate a more equitable distribution of domestic tasks.
Strengthening Workers’ Rights
Another key solution involves encouraging multinational brands to audit working conditions across their supply chains. Many women in the garment and footwear industries prefer to work from home due to caregiving responsibilities or cultural reasons, but they often face poor wages and unstable conditions.
Strengthening unions and collectives is also crucial in advocating for better workers’ rights. In São Paulo, Brazil, a women-led domestic workers’ union successfully negotiated improved wages and working conditions for live-in domestic workers.
