Economic empowerment for women health and care workers: The impact of COVID-19

Women have played a critical role in the COVID-19 pandemic at all levels, from political leadership to vaccine design, and as the majority of health workers in patient facing roles.  Despite being the majority in the profession, women in the health sector lack economic justice and are underpaid and often unpaid. It is estimated that women in health contribute 5% to global gross domestic product (GDP) (US$ 3 trillion), out of which almost 50% is unrecognized and unpaid. Women in health and care roles also tend to earn less than men, even for work of equal value. The 23% gender pay gap in health is wider than in most economic sectors. Occupational segregation in health runs deep and partly drives the pay gap, with women clustered into lower status and lower paying sectors. Men hold the majority of higher paid, leadership roles. 

In the first year of the pandemic health workers, the majority women, were applauded as ‘angels’ and heroes’ as they grappled with surging patient numbers, unprotected by vaccines and in many contexts, with inadequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).  Women also faced an increased burden of unpaid care work at home and in the community. COVID-19 has shown the fragility caused by these structural gender inequalities. In 2020 health workers in over 80 countries went on strike for better pay, conditions and safer work.

In 2021 France, WHO and Women in Global Health launched the Gender Equal Health and Care Workforce Initiative to inspire action in the health and care sector on safe, equal and decent work for women. The world is facing a serious health and care worker shortage, with an estimated 18 million needed globally to ensure Universal Health Coverage is reached by the deadline of 2030. Yet the COVID-19 pandemic has not only led to an estimated 80,000 to 180,000 health worker deaths globally, it has also put a strain on the profession, with estimates of 1 in 5 health workers, particularly women, planning to leave their jobs. This ‘Great Resignation’ in the health sector reflects the loss of morale and burnout experienced by health workers, especially women, due to COVID-19. Global health will only be secure when women in health and care have a fair social contract based on equal pay, decent work and equality in decision making.

Against this backdrop, Women in Global Health, in collaboration with the Government of France and the Government of Liberia are hosting a high-level 90-minute panel event on the sidelines of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSCW) 66, on 24th March 2022. This session supports the CSW Review theme: Women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work.