Stalled Progress? Evidence from American Time Use Data on Gender Differences in Time Spent on Economic Activities

The study examines the temporal trend in the gender gap in working hours in the US economy and analyses the possible reasons underlying the gender gap. The study uses American Time Use data for the period 2003–2021. It estimates truncated and quantile regression models to estimate the gender gap. The gender gap is decomposed into two components capturing the effect of characteristics and coefficients. The study finds evidence that gender differential in working hours across gender is stable in the current millennium. The gap is particularly high in highly remunerative jobs involving extended working hours, reflecting a glass ceiling for women. Further, differences in characteristics contribute only a minor proportion of the gender gap, indicating the possible influence of social attitudes and norms, and discriminatory organisational practices. The study argues in favor of policies to transform institutions, organisational work culture, and social norms about work-home balance. Incentivising firms to continue with flexible work schedules and work-from-home policies, extending family support and childcare arrangements, regulating work hours, and substituting overtime with part-time jobs are other ways to reduce the gender gap in work hours.