Trapped by Tradition: Gender and Occupational Segregation in Peru

Abstract

This study analyzes occupational gender segregation in Peru from 2004 to 2021 using census and household survey data, a multinomial logistic model, and Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition. Despite major gains in women′s educational attainment, gender gaps in employment remain stark. Women are overrepresented in low-paid and unpaid care work, while men dominate higher-paying sectors such as mining, construction, and transport. Marriage and motherhood significantly increase the likelihood of occupational segregation, underscoring the persistent power of gender norms and institutional barriers. Our findings highlight that education alone cannot close labor market gaps. We call for bold, targeted policies, including strict enforcement of pay equity laws, expanded parental leave, universal care systems, and access to flexible work, to dismantle structural obstacles to gender equality.