Unpaid Work
Is unfair
June 2025
Women do more unpaid work than men
Women provide
63%
more care than men
Find the value of your unpaid work using the
Unpaid work is work that produces goods and services but which carries no direct remuneration or other form of payment
Unpaid Work
In detail
Women do more unpaid care across most activities and across all ages
Unpaid Work by Gender
Unpaid Work by Gender and Age
The only activity men do more of is providing transport
Men do not do more unpaid work than women at any age
Why women do more
Unpaid Work
Women do more unpaid care across most activities and across all ages
Tradition, Parents and Education
Traditional gender roles where women are primarily responsible for the home and family, while men perceived as having a primary responsibility to earn money are still prevalent in society.
Parents, particularly the fathers of sons, are the most important influence of a child’s future attitude to gender roles at home.
Education affects participation in housework. The lower a women’s education level, the more time she spends on house work. Men with a higher educational level, do more housework.
Women's Employment
Women in precarious employment (zero hours contracts, temporary and part-time) have a greater burden of unpaid care.
Reduced participation in paid work compounds women’s lower earning potential.
Employers assumptions about men and women’s caring responsibilities outside of work can influence employers' decisions affecting women’s career progress.
The Gender Pay Gap (women's average lower earnings) can make it more economical for women to spend less time in lower paid work and to undertake unpaid care responsibilities.
Public Policy
Public policies, such as paid parental leave and affordable childcare, can also contribute to the uneven distribution of care work. Women have influence in these policies as they have less time to participate in public and senior roles.
Public transport is not designed for more complex multi-point journeys such as home – school – workplace, and back, that women need to take.
Unpaid Work
is invisible
Unpaid work, which is predominently undertaken by womem, is being left out of economic value
Unpaid care is not included in economic models
James Meade and Richard Stone devised the method of national income accounting that would become the global standard, 80 years ago. Gross domestic product estimates the monetary value of goods and services that are bought and sold.
Their own employee, who would later become Professor Phyllis Deane, considered it illogical that the economic value of preparing and cooking food was being ignored as women’s work. She worked on and proposed policies that included the contributions of all producers in national income. Her proposals were never adopted.
Unpaid care can damage carer's health
Unpaid carers often experience poorer physical and mental health compared to those without caring responsibilities.
They suffer from physical strain, emotional stress, and social isolation, leading to health issues including increased risk of long-term conditions, mental health problems, and injuries.
Carers are less likelto see health professions and are less able to take time to recover.
Gross Domestic Product
James Meade and Richard Stone devised the method of national income accounting that would become the global standard, 80 years ago. Gross domestic product estimates the monetary value of goods and services that are bought and sold.
Their own employee, who would later become Professor Phyllis Deane, considered it illogical that the economic value of preparing and cooking food was being ignored as women’s work. She worked on and proposed policies that included the contributions of all producers in national income. Her proposals were never adopted.
European Institute for Gender Equality | Gender differences on Household Chores
Women's Budget Group | Spirals of Inequality
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