Introduction
New findings from the WIN Worldviews Survey 2026, based on approximately 43,000 interviews across 43 countries, reveal a complex picture of workplace equality. While perceptions of pay equality have improved globally over the past seven years, men and women increasingly disagree on how much progress has actually been made.
Globally, 45% now believe that men and women earn about the same for the same job, up from 39% in 2019. At the same time, the share believing that men earn more has fallen from 50% to 44%. Yet this overall progress masks a significant gender divide: 51% of men believe pay is equal, compared with just 38% of women. Conversely, 51% of women believe men still earn more for the same work, versus 36% of men.
The gap is equally striking when it comes to career opportunities. While 40% globally believe men and women have equal opportunities for career progression, 42% believe women continue to face fewer opportunities. This perception is shared by 52% of women, compared with only 32% of men – a 20-point gender gap.
The findings also highlight generational and geographic divides. Perceptions of equal pay become less positive with age, while Europe emerges as the most sceptical region: only 34% of Europeans believe men and women are paid equally, compared with 55% who believe men earn more for the same work. By contrast, perceptions of equality are highest in Vietnam (81%), Venezuela (79%), the Philippines (77%), Indonesia (68%) and Malaysia (64%).
Overall, the study points to a clear disconnect between growing perceptions of progress and women’s more cautious assessment of their own workplace experience. Equal Pay Day therefore highlights an issue that extends beyond pay: career opportunities, advancement and lived workplace experiences remain central to how true workplace equality is perceived.
You wish to have more information on this case study ?
