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Despite decades of progress in Europe and Central Asia, gender gaps in jobs, entrepreneurship, finance, and care persist-holding back growth and risking hard-won gains. Women and girls are more educated and skilled than ever but still face barriers that keep them from reaching their full economic potential.

Barriers across labor markets, entrepreneurship, and access to finance prevent many from translating these gains into productive employment and quality jobs.

Women across the region remain disadvantaged in access to jobs, entrepreneurship, and financial access, while continuing to shoulder a disproportionate share of unpaid care work. Violence against women and girls (VAWG) remains a devastating reality for many, undermining women's safety, agency, and ability to participate fully in economic life. At the same time, new challenges are emerging: women's underrepresentation in STEM fields limits their entry into fast-growing, high-productivity industries that are shaping the region's future of work.

Expanding women's access to jobs and economic opportunities is not only a matter of fairness but a central driver of productivity, resilience, and growth. When women can participate fully in labor markets and entrepreneurship, economies benefit from a larger and more diverse talent pool, stronger firm performance, and more robust job creation. Conversely, gaps in employment, financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, and care provision weaken labor supply, dampen innovation, and reduce the economy's capacity to adapt to shocks.

Closing employment gaps alone could boost GDP per capita in the developing and emerging market economies of Europe and Central Asia by up to 14%.

This report takes stock of gender equality in the region, with a particular focus on women's access to economic opportunities and jobs, alongside the urgent challenge of VAWG. It highlights World Bank Group-supported initiatives across Europe and Central Asia, illustrating both the range of solutions being deployed and the institution's commitment to advancing gender equality as a cornerstone of inclusive growth and job creation.