Measuring the Gender Gap in Unpaid Care Work in Colombia: A Decomposition Analysis

ABSTRACT Care work plays a vital role in developing, maintaining and enhancing human capabilities, yielding substantial benefits for both individuals and society. Among the various forms of care work, childcare stands out as one of its most significant determinants. In Colombia, women living in households with dependents—particularly those with children under the age of five—devote considerably more time to care‐related activities than men, which limits the opportunities of women for leisure and participation in the labour market. This study aims to identify and measure gender gaps in unpaid care work, with a specific focus on households with children under 5 years of age. Using data from the 2020/2021 Colombian National Time Use Survey (NTUS), gender disparities in the allocation of time across different types of care‐related activities are analysed, including indirect care work, direct care work and exclusive care work for young children. The Oaxaca‐Blinder decomposition method was employed to assess the gender gap in unpaid care work and the relative contributions of socioeconomic and cultural factors. The results reveal a statistically significant gender gap in unpaid care time. More than half of the gender gap (52% indirect care, 60% direct care and 73% in exclusive care of children under five) can be attributed to observable characteristics such as education, marital status and adherence to traditional gender roles. Furthermore, the findings confirm the persistent gender gap in unpaid care work within Colombian households and highlight the influence of socioeconomic and cultural factors on how care responsibilities are distributed. These results underscore the importance of public policies and educational initiatives aimed at challenging traditional gender roles and promoting more equitable sharing of care‐related duties between men and women—especially in households with young children.