Improving the measurement of the contribution of women to the economy: Estimates of gross domestic product by gender

This paper estimates and examines the contribution to Gross domestic product (GDP) by men and by women in the Canadian economy for the first time. Up to now, increases in the educational attainment of women and their participation in the market economy are reflected in education and labour market statistics but the contribution of men and women to production has not been delineated. The paper implements a new method for measuring GDP for men and women between 2008 and 2018 based on administrative records. It informs on the rising share of activity attributable to women and documents those areas of GDP where women make the largest and smallest contributions.