View metadata

dc.titleThe Evolution of Gender Economic Gaps and the Role of Care in Mexico 2010-2023: What's Next?
dc.contributor.authorAcevedo, Ivonne
dc.contributor.authorAndrade Baena, Gina Laura
dc.contributor.authorSzékely, Miguel
dc.contributor.authorCastillo, Cristián
dc.contributor.orgunitGender and Diversity Division
dc.coverageMexico
dc.date.available2025-09-15T00:09:00
dc.date.issue2025-09-15T00:09:00
dc.description.abstractWomen remain underrepresented in the global labor market, and no country has yet achieved gender equality in the workplace. This article analyzes gender gaps in Mexicos labor market between 2010 and 2023 and assesses the potential impact of expanding childcare services to help close these gaps. The findings reveal that these disparities have persisted over time and are exacerbated by factors such as living in rural areas, marital status, and the presence of dependents in the household (either children or older adults). Women in rural areas face greater disadvantages, with a labor force participation gap of 44.2 percentage points (p.p.) compared to 26.4 p.p. in urban areas, and are 8 p.p. less likely to participate in the labor market. Single women are 19 p.p. more likely to be part of the labor force than married women or those in a union, who face a gap of 41.3 p.p. Unpaid worksuch as domestic tasks and caregivinglimits womens economic opportunities, particularly in rural areas and among married women, who spend an average of 25.6 hours per week on these activities. Women who care for dependents experience a reduction in labor force participation of between 3.5 and 2 p.p., while this effect is not significant among men. A simulation exercise shows that women aged 15 to 34 living in households with access to childcare services are between 11.2 and 14 p.p. more likely to participate in the labor market. Moreover, increasing access to childcare services by just 10 p.p. could raise the labor force participation of inactive women aged 15 to 34 by 1.1 p.p. (equivalent to 66,000 women). This change would entail a minimal cost, representing just 0.01% of the GDP.
dc.format.extent72
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.18235/0013701
dc.identifier.urlhttps://publications.iadb.org/publications/english/document/The-Evolution-of-Gender-Economic-Gaps-and-the-Role-of-Care-in-Mexico-2010-2023-Whats-Next.pdf
dc.identifier.urlhttps://publications.iadb.org/publications/spanish/document/Evolucion-de-las-brechas-economicas-de-genero-y-el-rol-de-los-cuidados-en-Mexico-de-2010-a-2023-que-sigue.pdf
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherInter-American Development Bank
dc.subjectWomen
dc.subjectGender Wage Gap
dc.subjectPopulation Aging
dc.subjectLabor
dc.subjectLabor Share
dc.subjectGender
dc.subjectEducation
dc.subjectGender Gap
dc.subjectLabor Force Participation
dc.subjectChildren
dc.subjectLabor Market
dc.subjectEarly Childhood Education
dc.subjectFemale Labor Force
dc.subject.jelcodeJ17 - Value of Life • Forgone Income
dc.subject.jelcodeJ31 - Wage Level and Structure • Wage Differentials
dc.subject.jelcodeJ78 - Public Policy
dc.subject.keywordsHuman Rights;Crime;violence against women;migrant smuggling;and gender and employment.
dc.typeTechnical Notes
idb.identifier.pubnumberIDB-TN-03192
idb.operationME-T1487
Return to Publication