GENDER WAGE GAP IN LATIN AMERICA: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE STRUCTURAL DRIVERS OF LABOUR MARKET INEQUALITIES (2010-2024)

Abstract

Abstract

Wage differentials between men and women continue to be one of the main expressions of inequality in Latin American labor markets. Although women's participation in education and employment has increased steadily over the past few decades, the magnitude of the wage gap varies considerably across countries, suggesting the influence of structural factors beyond individual workforce characteristics. The objective of this study was to analyze the evolution of the gender pay gap in Latin America between 2010 and 2024, to identify the factors associated with the differences observed between countries, and to discuss their implications for the design of public policies. A scoping review was carried out with a systematic search of scientific literature and comparative analysis of statistical information from the International Labor Organization (ILOSTAT), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC/ECPALSTAT), the Gender Equality Observatory, the World Economic Forum and the national statistical institutes of Argentina. Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. The analysis integrated indicators of adjusted and unadjusted wage gap, labor participation, informality, occupational segregation, educational level, and unpaid care work. In 2023, the adjusted pay gap reached 19.8% in monthly income and 17.3% in hourly wage, compared to 11% for the unadjusted gap. Among the countries analyzed, the differences ranged from 6.3% in Colombia to 25.4% in Argentina, while in the Colombian informal sector they reached 28%. In addition, female labor participation remained 22 percentage points below that of men and 78.1% of employed women were concentrated in low-productivity activities. The results indicate that the evolution of the wage gap responds to the interaction of occupational segregation, informality and the unequal distribution of care work. At the rate of reduction observed over the last decade, the region would need approximately 53 years to reach wage parity, which supports the need for policies that integrate the formalization of employment, the redistribution of care responsibilities and the reduction of structural barriers that continue to limit income equality.