• Women platform workers face challenges balancing unpaid care with work, despite so-called flexibility

    Increasing digitalisation has led to a proliferation of so-called "platform work" whereby workers use online platforms (e.g. Uber, Wolt, Bolt) to access clients to deliver specific tasks or services. Such platforms can be seen to offer flexibility regarding when, how much and where one works. And this can contribute to gender equality through enabling a better work-life balance. For example...

  • Characteristics and income of platform workers with childcare responsibilities

    Increasing digitalisation has led to a proliferation of so-called "platform work" whereby workers use online platforms (e.g. Uber, Wolt, Bolt) to access clients to deliver specific tasks or services. This note explores some of the characteristics of platform work for those with childcare responsibilities. Furthermore, it investigates gender differences for those carers who live with children in a couple or...

  • Gender differences in motivation to engage in platform work

    Platform work together with other new forms of employment are gaining ground in the European labour market. Although the share of women platform workers has been rising in recent years, they remain under-represented in platform work. Women are more likely to engage in platform work to gain an additional income and to have flexibility with the specific aim of combining...

  • Platform work: Has flexibility become a cover story?

    The platform work economy comes with great strengths. The ability to work where you want and how you want is a significant motivator for people who have grown tired of the 9-5 rigidity and seek more diversity in their career path.

    A vector image depicting a woman sitting by a computer with thought bubbles representing different life obligations around her
  • Amid crises and rising inequalities, legislation needs gender perspective 

    For the first time ever, EIGE’s Gender Equality Index shows signs of a worsening situation for women in many areas of work and home life. By addressing these rising inequalities today, we can build a stronger economy that benefits everyone, regardless of gender.

    An older woman working on a sewing machine
  • Gender Equality Index 2022: Gender Equality under Threat, Specific Groups Hardest Hit

    The freshly launched Gender Equality Index 2022 reveals that progress continues at a snails' pace, with a mere 0.6-point increase since last year's edition. The scores present strong warning signs amid continued uncertainty and turmoil.

    Mixed race family working from home
  • Gender in Research

    Promoting gender equality is a key principle of the EU in all its activities. European research still shows a pronounced under-representation of women, particularly in the hard sciences and in leadership positions. Gender equality in research is essential not only for fairness and inclusiveness, but because it could help address current and future deficits in skilled labour within the EU...

  • Gender Equality Index 2022: The COVID-19 pandemic and care

    The Gender Equality Index is a tool to measure the progress of gender equality in the EU, developed by EIGE. It gives more visibility to areas that need improvement and ultimately supports policy makers to design more effective gender equality measures. The Gender Equality Index has tracked the painfully slow progress of gender equality in the EU since 2010, mostly...

  • Young women and men in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic

    In the socio-economic fallout of the pandemic among other ongoing crises and challenges, young women and men were hit the hardest. From rising unemployment rates – particularly among those with a migrant background – to persisting gender inequalities in the labour market and the unequal distribution of unpaid care – this policy brief provides actionable recommendations for policy-makers to engage...