Abstract
With 33 million women joining the labour market between 1990 and 2004, this means that women now represent 40 per cent of the economically active population in urban areas in Latin America. The authors of this study examine in detail the progress achieved in female rates of labour force participation, as well as the continuing gap between men and women in terms of access to quality jobs, of unemployment, remuneration and social protection. The sex-based inequality observed has got worse in some respects and has improved in others.