The gender pay gap: key data and facts at a global level

 Economic growth has failed to be sufficiently translated into improvements in the living and working conditions of people globally. Over the past decades, the share of wages as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), i.e., the labour income share, has substantially declined in most advanced and emerging market economies, as wages have stagnated compared to productivity increases.

Inequalities between women and men in the labour market continue to persist, leading to greater exposure to economic vulnerability for women. Women continue to be underrepresented in employment and overrepresented in part-time work, low-paid jobs and sectors, as well as precarious and informal work. Moreover, women tend to disproportionately take part in unpaid work and care activities. However, such activities tend not to be included in GDP accounting, The gender pay gap: key data and facts at a global level leading to a failure to recognise and value women’s contributions to the economy, and broader society. Women have also been disproportionately impacted by macroeconomic adjustment measures implemented during times of economic crisis, through cutting jobs and freezing wages in the public sector, in sectors such as health and education where they tend to be heavily represented.

Despite some advancements of women in the labour market across many countries over past decades, gender differences in pay persist, having barely changed on the aggregate level. Estimates by the ILO, based on data from 80 countries (ILO 2018), show that on average, women still continue to be paid around 20 per cent less than men. UN Women has reported that at the current rate of change, it will take 257 years to close the global gender pay gap.Together with the gender employment gap, the gender pay gap is one of the primary dimensions of wage inequality, that hampers equitable and inclusive labour markets.