New research published in The Economic and Labour Relations Review shows that gender equality at work remains far from achieved, with women around the world still facing unsafe, undervalued and insecure working conditions. The themed collection, produced by researchers from UNSW Sydney and UNSW Canberra, is described by its guest editors as a necessary stocktake of how paid and unpaid work continues to shape women’s wellbeing, safety and economic power.
The editors argue that progress on gender equality has been slower and more fragile than expected. While women’s participation in work has increased in many countries, this has not translated into equal outcomes. Instead, many women continue to carry a disproportionate share of unpaid labour, face insecure employment, and experience violence that limits their ability to work and thrive. The collection calls for a more honest assessment of where progress has stalled and where key goals have not been met.
These findings come at a time of rapid global change. Artificial intelligence, climate change, pandemics, conflict and political backlash against diversity and inclusion policies are all reshaping labour markets. According to the editors, these pressures reveal how easily gains in gender equality can be reversed, particularly when economic policies weaken protections and shift risk onto individuals and households. Crises rarely affect everyone equally, and women are often left absorbing unpaid work and insecurity when systems fail.
Several studies in the collection examine climate change, showing that women in developing regions face heavier workloads, reduced income and greater exposure to violence as environmental shocks intensify. Crucially, women are often excluded from decisions about how work and resources are reorganised in response to these crises. The research stresses that climate change is not only an environmental issue but one that deeply reshapes work, power and protection in gendered ways.
The collection also explores the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence. While AI could reduce repetitive tasks and improve flexibility, the research warns that without deliberate safeguards, it may further devalue or replace work done mainly by women. Women are more likely than men to be employed in roles vulnerable to automation, and many essential forms of care and support work remain poorly paid or unpaid, despite being critical to economic and social functioning.
Gendered violence emerges as a persistent barrier to women’s workforce participation. One Australian study highlighted in the issue finds that universal paid family and domestic violence leave benefits both workers and employers, showing how evidence-based policy can improve safety and economic outcomes. The editors argue that recognising the impact of violence on work is not optional but fundamental to any serious approach to gender equality.
Overall, the collection challenges the idea that progress is inevitable or permanent. It shows how decades of gains can be undone quickly when political support weakens and crises intensify. The research calls for a broader rethink of how work is organised, valued and protected, emphasising that gender equality is central to how economies function, and societies endure. While some positive signs exist, such as recent efforts to revalue care work, the message is clear: much more needs to be done, and work alone will not deliver the equality many had hoped for.
More information: Yuvisthi Naidoo et al, Gender and Work Part A: Investigating contexts, impacts, and effects, The Economic and Labour Relations Review. DOI: 10.1017/elr.2025.10047
Journal information: The Economic and Labour Relations Review Provided by University of New South Wales