New York, March 4, 2025 — For the first time in its history, the International Federation for Family Development (IFFD) has formally contributed to the United Nations Statistical Commission 2025º, emphasizing the urgent need for improved data on unpaid care work and its direct impact on family well-being. This contribution, presented under agenda item 3(h) on work and employment statistics, highlights the crucial role of family-centered data in shaping policies that support work-family balance and caregiving responsibilities.
IFFD’s submission underscores that existing employment statistics often overlook the significant role families play in sustaining economic and social structures. In particular, unpaid care work—largely performed by women—remains an invisible yet essential component of national economies. By advocating for standardized, regularly updated data on unpaid care work, IFFD seeks to ensure that global and national policies recognize, measure, and support caregiving responsibilities within families.
Unpaid care work is at the heart of family life, yet it is rarely accounted for in economic indicators. Current labor force statistics fail to capture the full scope of caregiving’s contributions to societies, leading to inadequate policies that do not fully address work-family balance, parental leave, or support systems for caregivers. IFFD’s recommendations include:
- Standardized Measurement: Creating globally comparable metrics for unpaid care work to inform policy decisions on family-friendly policies.
- Regular Reporting: Ensuring that time-use surveys and employment statistics include caregiving responsibilities of all members of the family.
- Integration into GDP Calculations: Recognizing unpaid care work as a fundamental contributor to national economies and the key role of families in cost-effective interventions.
- Supportive Family Policies: Encouraging governments to implement paid leave, flexible work arrangements, and access to quality childcare services.
- Cultural Shifts: Promoting the redistribution of caregiving responsibilities within households to foster gender equality and role of men at home.
The United Nations Statistical Commission, established in 1947, plays a vital role in setting global statistical standards, ensuring that data collection accurately reflects societal realities. During its 56th session, held from March 4 to 7, 2025, the Commission addressed key developments in work and employment statistics, with the International Labour Organization (ILO) presenting its latest report on global labor market trends. The ILO emphasized that while global unemployment remains at a historic low of 5%, disparities persist, particularly for youth and women, further exacerbating inequalities within families.
By contributing to these discussions, IFFD is reinforcing the need for a paradigm shift in policy-making—one that acknowledges families as the cornerstone of sustainable development. The integration of unpaid care work into labor statistics is not just a technical necessity; it is a call for greater recognition of the caregiving economy and the need for policies that empower families.
As the global community strives to meet the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 5.4 on recognizing and valuing unpaid care work, IFFD’s advocacy at the UN Statistical Commission marks a significant step toward family-centered policy frameworks. Strengthening data collection on caregiving will pave the way for inclusive labor policies that enable families to thrive, fostering intergenerational well-being and economic stability for future generations.
IFFD’s Written Comment to the United Nations Statistical Commission
