The UN have just released a brand new report on the global progress of women, within the workforce and within society as a whole. The results are somewhat sobering.

According to the report which was released this Tuesday, the UN found that worldwide, women earn 24% less than men on average, while they do almost two and a half times the amount of housework.

Women in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa experience the biggest pay gap, while women in the Middle East and North Africa experience the smallest.

Australia was not immune to these poor statistics, with the report specifically mentioning the fact that Australia’s pay gap has widened between 2000 and 2010.

The report suggested this is partly because women are still over-represented in clerical and support positions. On average worldwide, 63% of women are in clerical and support positions compared to 33% of women in managerial occupations.

Another factor is time, as 39% of employed women worldwide with children under six are the sole carer. Consequently many women cannot invest in the time and energy needed to take on managerial and key-decision making roles while also caring for their family.

Despite these sobering statistics the UN believes gender equality especially within the workforce, is an achievable goal.

Key actions the UN recommend for this to happen is firstly, to properly value female-dominated occupations, including care jobs so that levels of remuneration are commensurate with worker’s skills and the contribution of their work to well-functioning economies and societies more broadly. Secondly, they encourage providing careers advice for young women and encouragement to study science, technology, mathematics and other male dominated subjects. Finally, they heavily encourage governments to provide child allowances to support families with the costs of raising children as well as non-contributory pensions to ensure women’s income security in old age.

To read the full report, click here.