PwC’s latest 15th annual Women in Work Index shows that progress towards gender equality at work is continuing, but has slowed materially across OECD countries.
Key takeaways highlighted:
• Momentum has weakened: Progress is now at its slowest rate since the pandemic, reflecting structural labour market pressures.
• Deteriorating employment dynamics: A fall in women’s full-time employment and rising female unemployment are the main drivers behind the slowdown.
• Incremental gains remain: Over the long term, improvements continue to be supported by higher female participation and gradual narrowing of the gender pay gap, though progress is uneven and modest.
• UK context: The UK has slightly improved its ranking (17th) and leads the G7, but performance is largely flat, with gains constrained by higher unemployment and weaker full-time participation.
PwC’s 2026 analysis underscores that while gender equality in the workplace is improving over time, progress is fragile, uneven, and at risk of stalling without targeted policy and workplace interventions.
Read more on their website.