Employability and gender in Ecuador: main challenges in terms of equity

Abstract

This research analyzes labor inequalities between men and women in Ecuador, with the aim of understanding how gaps in employment, underemployment, and income relate to persistent social and economic structures. The study applies a quantitative-descriptive approach based on data from the INEC's National Survey of Employment, Unemployment, and Underemployment (ENEMDU) for the period 2019–2024. It examines rates of adequate employment, underemployment, unemployment, informality, and the wage gap. The analysis is complemented by a review of the literature on gender segregation in the labor market and the impact of unpaid work on female participation. The results show substantial gaps. In 2024, adequate male employment was 41.4%, while female employment reached only 28.4%. The wage gap remains at 16.65%, with lower average incomes for women despite having equal or higher levels of education. Women are concentrated in feminized activities—education, health, domestic service, lodging, and food—characterized by lower pay and high informality. In addition, unpaid work falls disproportionately on them, limiting their time available for formal employment and restricting their labor mobility. The discussion points out that these inequalities respond to structural factors that transcend current labor policies. Care responsibilities create a "sticky floor" that keeps women in precarious jobs, while the low presence of women in leadership positions confirms the existence of "glass ceilings." Public policies have advanced, but they have not yet transformed the cultural conditions that sustain inequality.