In a groundbreaking study published in the journal Social Indicators Research, researchers have found that reducing long work hours traditionally undertaken by men could significantly narrow the gender earnings gap. The study, which examined heterosexual couple households in Australia and Germany, reveals that men earn substantially more than women, partly because they work longer hours.
The research highlights a stark reality: in Australian couple households where both partners are employed, men earn on average $536 more per week than women. In Germany, this weekly gender earnings gap stands at €400. The study attributes about half of this gap to men working longer hours, while women often reduce their work hours to manage household responsibilities.
Understanding the Dynamics of Long Work Hours
Long work hours are often seen as a marker of ambition and dedication in many workplaces. Employees who willingly work overtime are frequently perceived as more committed, a notion that is implicitly encouraged and rewarded. However, this culture of long hours has hidden costs, particularly for households where one partner’s extended work hours come at the expense of the other’s career opportunities.
In households, when one partner works extra hours, the other often compensates by taking on more unpaid domestic duties. This includes childcare, household chores, and eldercare, roles traditionally undertaken by women. The study’s findings suggest that this dynamic is a significant driver of the gender earnings gap.
The Impact of Household Responsibilities
The study examined data from 3,000 to 6,000 heterosexual couples between 2002 and 2019 in both countries. It employed a two-stage instrumental variable Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition to model earnings gaps as a function of both partners’ paid and unpaid hours. This method allowed researchers to estimate what the gender gap in hours and earnings would look like if time weren’t being “borrowed” or “subsidised” within the home.
One in three Australian employees is responsible for childcare, and a significant percentage also provide care for aging parents. These responsibilities have a profound impact on work hours and earnings, often going unrecognized in discussions about workplace equality.
Reimagining Work Hours for Gender Equality
The study’s results were revealing. It demonstrated that if household duties were more evenly distributed, women would work more paid hours, while men would work fewer. Specifically, the weekly work hour gap would shrink by 58% in Australia and 47% in Germany.
The gender earnings gap would shrink by 43% in Australia and 25% in Germany.
This finding underscores the potential for significant progress in gender equality if workplaces and societal norms were to shift towards more balanced work hours. The rest of the earnings gap is attributed to differences in pay across male and female-dominated industries and the persistent gender pay gap in hourly wages.
Current Gender Pay Disparities
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the average gender gap in hourly pay is 11.1%, with women earning significantly less per hour than men. The average weekly earnings gap is even larger at 26.4%. These figures highlight the dual nature of the earnings gap: one part is the disparity in hourly pay, and the other is the difference in hours worked.
The study suggests that aligning men’s work hours closer to Australia’s legislated 38-hour week could help reduce this gap. Encouraging workplaces to adopt such practices could lead to more equitable outcomes.
Moving Towards a More Equitable Future
By addressing the culture of long work hours, the study estimates that in heterosexual couples, men’s average weekly hours could drop to 41, while women’s could increase to 36. This shift could alleviate the economic burden women face due to their partners’ extended work hours and contribute significantly to closing the gender earnings gap.
The implications of this research are clear: reining in excessive work hours should become a focal point in the fight for gender equality. By promoting a more balanced distribution of work and domestic responsibilities, society can make strides towards reducing the economic disparities faced by women.
As the conversation around gender equality continues to evolve, this study provides a compelling argument for re-evaluating how work hours are structured and rewarded in modern economies.
