Survey of Gender Gaps in Unpaid Care, Individual and Social Activities (CARE)

The survey focused on gender differences in unpaid care to better understand how they impact job opportunities, the work–life balance, leisure and social activities of women and men.

The survey was carried out in all 27 EU Member States, with a total sample size of over 60 000 respondents. In most countries, data was collected through computer-assisted web interviews (CAWI) using established online access panels (non-probability sampling). In Luxembourg and Malta respondents were interviewed using computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATIs). The survey targeted respondents from 16 to 74 years, with the exceptions of Luxembourg (16+), Malta (16+) and Romania (16–64). The fieldwork took place between August and November 2022.

The CAWI samples were quota samples set for age, gender and NUTS region. Target quotas were based on Eurostat official statistics and reflected the stratification of the category for the population in a Member State. The samples in Luxembourg and Malta were based on a dual-frame CATI RDD probability sample. The RDD approach involved generating telephone numbers using a machine by randomly adding the last set of digits to known valid area codes and exchange numbers. No quotas were applied in Luxembourg or Malta, as the sampling was random. Any discrepancies between the net sample and representative figures were adjusted with weighting.<br>The survey questionnaire has five key thematic sections: informal long-term care, informal childcare, housework, leisure and volunteering. An additional section collected information on the use of different means of transport, the use of digital tools and eco-friendly considerations in informal care. The questionnaire also included background questions on individual and household characteristics and questions on respondents’ views on gender roles.

Informal long-term care: unpaid care activities for family members, relatives, neighbours or friends (including children) who have needed others’ support as a result of mental, physical frailty, disability or old age for at least 3 months. Informal care concerns daily living activities (e.g. dressing, showering, eating, moving around, using the toilet) and instrumental activities of daily living (e.g. grocery shopping, preparing meals, managing money, and managing housework).

Unpaid childcare (including parental childcare, grandparenting and any other forms of childcare outside of family care) includes personal care, assistance with school tasks, managing children’s activities, leisure, supervision and emotional support.

Housework: activities that people do without being paid, such as grocery shopping, housework chores (cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, etc.), financial and administrative matters (paying bills, etc.), management and planning (preparing shopping lists, planning meals, etc.), house and general maintenance tasks (gardening, etc.).

Leisure: time spent outside of paid and unpaid work. Leisure activities are sport, religious, cultural activities, relaxing, meeting family and friends, sightseeing, holidays, watching TV, listening to the radio and hobbies. Leisure excludes volunteering and life sustaining activities (e.g. personal care, eating, sleeping, visiting doctor).

Volunteering: unpaid activity where someone gives their time to help a not-for-profit organisation or an individual who they are not related to. Volunteering includes being engaged in cultural, educational, sporting, charitable activities, distributing food, teaching, medical support, animal care, art and music, environmental work, support fundraising, donations, etc. By political activities, we refer to running or helping a political campaign, distributing campaign material, signing a petition, protesting, contacting officials, etc.

Demography: sex; age; education; employment status, working time (weekly hours); country of birth; degree of urbanization; household size; composition of household (number of children, partner/ parents/ grandparents living together); income; disability.

Questions on education levels were standardised across countries using the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED).

Questions on income ranges were constructed based on Eurostat’s income distribution data from EU-SILC and the European Community Household Panel surveys.