There is so much to be done to address gender inequality, particularly in terms of job opportunities and quality of employment, the latest report of the United Nations-International Labor Organization (UN-ILO) said.

The report, entitled “Women in Labor Markets: Measuring Progress and Identifying Challenges,” revealed that there is still a 26 percent gender gap in terms of labor although it was trimmed from the previous 32 percent.

“While there have been areas of improvement… and more women are choosing to work, they still don’t enjoy the same gains as men in the labor markets,” Sara Elder of the ILO’s Employment Trends Unit said. Elder is also the main author of the report.

"We still find many more women than men taking up low-pay and precarious work, either because this is the only type of job made available to them or because they need to find something that allows them to balance work and family responsibilities. Men do not face these same constraints,” she noted.

Based on the report, there had been increased participation among women in the labor force at 51.7 percent in 2008 compared to 50.2 percent in 1980. However, the increase was not seen much in Central and Southeastern Europe (non-European Union or EU members) and East Asia. The largest gain was noted in Latin America and the Caribbbean.

But the salary for women increased to 47.3 percent in 2009 compared to 42.8 percent in 1999 while vulnerable employment decreased from 55.9 percent to 51.2 percent. The global unemployment rate, meanwhile, increased from six percent in 2007 to seven percent in 2009 due to the global financial crisis.

“We know from previous crises that female job-losers find it more difficult to return to work as economic recovery settles in. That’s why it is important to ensure that gender equality is not a fair weather policy aim that falls aside in the face of hard times. It should be seen as a means to promote growth and employment rather than as a cost or constraint,” Elder said.

According to the ILO, the creation of a new international labor standard is being supported by governments, workers and employer organizations in Asia Pacific that would offer better social protection, particularly to domestic workers.