Business · Economy · 1 hr ago
Mexican women have 11 fewer free hours a week than men, study finds
A study of work in Mexico found that men have about 11 more free hours each week than women.
The study was produced by the Center for Research on Women in Senior Management and Afore Sura.
It found that 32.6% of men and 18.5% of women work over 48 hours a week, on average.
Yet men have an average of 117 free hours a week, compared with 106 for women.
The study links the difference to women doing more unpaid household and care work.
For example, women workers spend an average of 10.9 hours a week preparing food, while women working full-time spend 8.1 hours cleaning their homes.
The findings matter because longer paid work hours do not give women more time off; unpaid responsibilities also take time.
The study says women without children may also take on care for older relatives as the population ages.
A study finds that employed men in Mexico have an average of 117 hours of free time a week, compared with 106 hours for women.
The 11-hour gap persists even though men are more likely to work excessive paid hours.
The study says women spend more time on unpaid domestic work and care responsibilities.
Women working full time spend an average of 8.1 hours a week cleaning their homes, compared with 5.2 hours for men.
The study was produced by CIMAD and Afore Sura and compares data from 2005 to 2026.
- Who
- Employed women and men in Mexico.
- What
- A study finds men have about 11 more free hours per week than women.
- When
- The study covers 2005 to 2026 and was reported on November 10, 2026.
- Where
- Mexico.
- Why
- The study attributes the gap to women taking on more unpaid domestic work and care responsibilities.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The study compares trends in decent work in Mexico by sex.
El Economista MX reported the study’s findings on the gap in free time.
- Men’s average weekly free time
- 117 hours
- Women’s average weekly free time
- 106 hours
- Weekly free-time gap
- About 11 hours
- Excessive paid work hours
- 32.6% of men and 18.5% of women
- Full-time home cleaning
- Women: 8.1 hours a week; men: 5.2 hours a week
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What people are saying
Men usually have around 11 hours more free time than women.