Methodological guide on time-use measurements in Latin America and the Caribbean

The region is facing the challenge of increasing the harmonization and comparability of measurements of time use and unpaid work. The methodological differences between the various surveys make it harder to generate regional aggregate data. In view of this, the member countries of the Working Group on Gender Statistics agreed to prepare a methodological document that would collate the experience of the countries of the region and make recommendations for the design of measurement instruments that would make it possible to generate comparable indicators with common regionally agreed-upon methodologies.

This guide is the final output of the working group formed by 19 institutions in the region, including national statistical offices and machineries for the advancement of women. It was coordinated by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) of Mexico, with collaboration from ECLAC and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women) acting as technical secretariat. The guide will enable the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean to learn about experiences in measuring time use in the region, the diversity of tools used and the lessons learned. It will facilitate decision-making by entities such as the national statistical offices and the national machineries for the advancement of women, and by the academic community specialized in gender issues.