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The evolution of gender in the labour market

Claudia Olivetti, Jessica Pan and Barbara Petrongolo


Despite significant progress in closing the gender gap in earnings, work remains highly gendered, with women continuing to participate less in the workforce, work fewer hours, and face persistent wage disparities. This column examines the evolution of gender studies, highlighting two key academic explanations for the remaining gaps: inherent gender differences and societal constraints. The authors explore how cultural norms, career-family trade-offs, and evolving work structures - such as remote and gig work - affect gender inequality. Understanding these factors is essential for crafting policies to enhance allocative efficiency and reduce persistent gender disparities.


20 January 2025


Vox EU


https://cepr.org/voxeu/columns/evolution-gender-labour-market

This Blog is published under the centre's Labour programme.