Gender brief

• OECD Social Policy Division

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22 March 2010Despite numerous improvements in women’s employment outcomes, there are still many gender gaps that need to be addressed. This report provides an overview of gender differences in OECD countries. On average, across OECD countries, the proportion of women in paid work is high (62%). However, women in OECD countries earn 18% less than men, only about one-third of managerial posts are held by a woman, many more women work in part-time jobs than men (25% and 6% respectively). These gender differences are even wider with the presence of children since women are more likely to adjust their employment practices upon the arrival of a child much more than men.

The report provides a range of statistics grouped under three headings:

• family structures,

• women's employment and income status,

• public policies towards familes.