What Is the Labor Market Like for Women in Latin America and the Caribbean?

The labor force participation of women in Latin America and the Caribbean is low, and the regions gender gap is one of the widest in the world. Although important progress has been made over the last 50 years (with womens participation rate going from around 20% in the 1960s to more than 60% toward the beginning of the 2010s), the pace of growth slowed down in the early 2000s. Once they enter the labor market, women tend to be employed in lower-paying and lower-quality jobs compared to men. This is due to occupational and educational segregation. On top of this unfavorable situation for women, they are in disadvantage in terms of the 21st century skills (those that are highly valued today and that are expected to continue to have a growing demand) and they face “glass ceilings” which limit womens access to hierarchical positions, hindering their professional progression.