A global overview of time-use data: Gendered uses and policy work

Abstract

Time-use surveys (TUS) are a cornerstone of gender statistics, capturing how people allocate time across paid work, unpaid care, and leisure. By making visible the value of unpaid care and domestic work—often excluded from economic measures—TUS provide essential evidence for labor, social protection, work–life balance, and gender-responsive budgeting. This paper offers a global overview of TUS, tracing their evolution from measurement tools to drivers of policy change, while assessing persistent limitations and emerging opportunities. Drawing on UN Women and Data2X case studies, and recent UNSD and ILO developments, it examines methodological advances—from diary-based vs. stylised approaches and measurement of simultaneous activities to harmonised classifications (ICATUS 2016, HETUS, CAUTAL) and technology-enabled data collection. Challenges remain: funding and capacity gaps, uneven institutionalisation of gender perspectives, inconsistent age thresholds and household classifications, and weak policy uptake. Yet, enabling factors are clear: policy uses in assessing the care economy, informing national care policies (e.g., Uruguay, Kenya), and compiling extended household production accounts. Positioning TUS as both statistical and policy instruments, the paper calls for sustained investment, harmonisation, and innovation to realise their full potential in advancing gender equality and sustainable development.