性别多样化的护理部门：通往公平和可持续发展的道路

A path to equitable andsustainable development Gender-diverse care sectors A path to equitable and sustainable development © 2025 United NationsAll rights reserved worldwide Photocopies and reproductions of excerpts are allowed with proper credits. All queries on rights and licences, including subsidiary rights, should be addressed to the UnitedNations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA),email:publications-escwa@un.org. The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed in this publication are those of the authorsand do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations or its officials or Member States. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply theexpression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the United Nations concerning the legal statusof any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of itsfrontiers or boundaries. Links contained in this publication are provided for the convenience of the reader and are correct atthe time of issue. The United Nations takes no responsibility for the continued accuracy of thatinformation or for the content of any external website. References have, wherever possible, been verified. Mention of commercial names and products does not imply the endorsement of the United Nations. References to dollars ($) are to United States dollars, unless otherwise stated. Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters combined with figures.Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document. United Nations publication issued by ESCWA, United Nations House,Riad El Solh Square, P.O. Box: 11–8575, Beirut, Lebanon. Website:www.unescwa.org. Cover photo credit:©ChasingMagic/peopleimages.com/stock.adobe.com 2500421E Key messages •Promoting gender diversity in the care sector fosters inclusivity and equity. Ithelps challenge stereotypes, improves working conditions, stimulates careerdevelopment, encourages balanced participation by both women and men andadvances gender equality.•Supporting men’s participation in care work through targeted initiativesenhances recruitment and retention. It strengthens the care sector’s capacity tomeet growing care demands.•Improving working conditions creates decent opportunities for all. It encouragesmen’s participation in the care sector, supporting a more gender-balanced labourforce.•Advanced care sector is a prerequisite for women’s participation in the economy. Key messagesiiiIntroduction1 1.Care work: a pillar for human development and a prerequisite for advancing women’s economic participation3A.Women: the unseen workers in unpaid care3 B.Women: the unharnessed force in paid care work4 2.Care sector: a job creator and enabler of women’s participation in emerging sectors7A.Paid care work: immense potential in future economies7 B.Paid care sector: a prerequisite for women’s employment9 3.Building diverse care sectors for decent work13A.Wage gap between men and women13 B.Low wage in women dominated sectorsC.Cultural Devaluation 1415 4.Diverse care sectors in the Arab region: a strategic imperative for future economies17 List of boxes Box 1.Women-dominated care occupations5Box 2.Lebanon: a case of persistent childcare gaps8Box 3.Morocco: a case of growing demand for care in a rapidly ageing population9Box 4.Saudi Arabia: expanding childcare to advance women’s employment10Box 5.Egypt: a snapshot of care labour force15 Introduction Beyond being a matter of rights, women’seconomic engagement serves as a powerfuleconomic driver. Estimates indicate thatclosing gender gaps in the labour force couldcontribute up to $7 trillion to the globaleconomy.1Through economic participation,women are able to access opportunities acrossvarious economic sectors and engage indecent work on an equal footing with men,paving the way for economic justice andsustainable development. potential as an enabler of economic growth.It further restricts women’s access to otherfields, including emerging areas such astechnology and green jobs, reinforcing genderinequality and limiting economic mobility. Despite its challenges, the care economyholds significant untapped potential.Investing in gender-diverse care systemsand improving working conditions can drivewomen’s economic empowerment. Globally,the care sector could generate up to475 million jobs by 2030.3For the Arabregion, where care systems are largelyunderdeveloped, this represents a criticalopportunity to achieve both economic andsocial gains. Despite the widespread recognition of women’sparticipation as a development priority in manycountries in the Arab region, it remains amongthe lowest worldwide. Social norms andstructural barriers continue to limit women’saccess to economic opportunities, hindering theregion’s potential for inclusive growth. The present paper explores how investing ingender-diverse care systems can advancegender eq