Occupational segregation reflects the extent to which gender functions as an organizing principle of the labor market structure, with one of its most visible expressions being the concentration of women in the care sector. This sector includes jobs related to health, education, and paid domestic work. Due to the lower social value placed on these occupations, a "care penalty" is observed in wages, and given that a greater number of women work in this sector, this penalty affects them disproportionately.
Latin America and the Caribbean are experiencing a persistent care crisis, exacerbated by population aging, shifts in epidemiological trends, and the effects of climate change. With appropriate investments, the care sector could be strengthened as an economic multiplier and a driver of sustainable development, by generating decent jobs and reducing households’ dependence on unpaid work, which is predominantly carried out by women.
Definition
Proportion of the population aged 15 and older employed in care economy sectors, in relation to the total number of employed people aged 15 and older. It is calculated by sex, and the result is expressed as a percentage. The classification of care sectors is based on the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC), Revision 3 or 4. The indicator is based on household surveys from countries in the Household Survey Data Bank (BADEHOG), covering data from 2000 to the most recent year available.
