New global estimates from the International Labor Organization (ILO) show that unpaid care continues to be the single biggest obstacle keeping women out of the labor force.Â
In 2023, 748 million people aged 15 or older were not participating in the workforce because of care responsibilities, according to the United Nations. Women made up 708 million of that total — while only 40 million were men — underscoring a vast and persistent gender gap.
The data, drawn from 125 countries, confirms that women are still overwhelmingly responsible for childcare, elder care, disability support, and household management. Men who are outside the labor force, by contrast, are far more likely to cite education, health issues, or personal reasons unrelated to caregiving.
A Systemic Divide Rooted in Gender, Education, and Geography
Globally, an estimated 1.6 billion women and 800 million men are outside the labor force. Among them, 45% of women say caregiving prevents them from working, compared with just 5% of men.Â
The imbalance is even sharper among women with lower levels of education and those living in rural areas, where limited job opportunities, weak infrastructure, and minimal formal care services further restrict economic participation.
The ILO’s analysis links these gaps directly to entrenched social norms around caregiving and to the lack of support systems that would enable women to seek paid employment.
A New Global Framework to Address Care Inequality
In June 2024, ILO members adopted a landmark resolution on the care economy, creating a roadmap to expand services, improve policies, and close gender gaps.Â
Strong care systems help women join the workforce, support families, and boost productivity, while underfunded care carries growing costs as populations age and climate pressures rise.
Progress Made, But Demand for Care Continues to Grow
Since 2018, many countries have expanded access to early childhood care and education, helping more women stay in the workforce. Despite this progress, the ILO warns that demographic changes and climate pressures are accelerating the need for scalable, well-funded care infrastructure.
Without significant investment in care policies, the organization notes, inequality will widen and labor markets will continue to exclude millions of women whose unpaid work remains invisible yet essential.
