Closing the Gender Gap: The ILO approach to Gender-Neutral Job Evaluation for Equal Pay
Closing the Gender Gap: The ILO approach to Gender-Neutral Job Evaluation for Equal Pay
6–31 July 2026
The course is available in English
Why the value of job matters?
Equal pay for equal work -or work of equal value- is a core principle of social justice and a fundamental human right. The International Labour Organization has recognized the right of women and men to equal remuneration since 1919. Closing the gender pay gap requires going beyond equal pay for identical work and addressing situations where different jobs -often segregated by gender- are paid differently despite being of comparable value. This is why job comparison and evaluation must assess roles using objective and transparent criteria, and must be gender-neutral, avoiding assumptions that may undervalue work traditionally performed by women.
Introduction to the course
The practical workshop aims to review step-by-step the different components of the ILO methodology for implementing objective and gender-sensitive job evaluation, reviewing the criteria to be met to avoid discriminatory practices in remuneration between women and men.
Who attends this course?
The training is designed to people with gender expertise interested in strengthening their capacities in carried out objective and gender-sensitive job evaluation for equal pay applying the ILO methodology. The course is also aimed to representatives from governments and public authorities, employers and workers organizations, equal opportunity units, academics, United Nations and civil-society staff, gender experts and professional working job evaluation and the promotion of equal remuneration.
OBJECTIVES
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
- Conduct gender-neutral job evaluations to assess and compare the value of different jobs
- Apply a gender perspective to identify and address sources of pay discrimination
- Align job evaluation and classification practice with international standards on equal pay and relevant national pay transparency legislation, if applicable
- Support or advise on the design and implementation of gender-sensitive job evaluation processes in your institution or sector, or as a professional
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
This training is designed for professionals with gender expertise who want to strengthen their capacity to implement objective and gender-sensitive job evaluation using the ILO methodology, including representatives of:
- Governments and public authorities
- Employers’ and workers’ organizations
- Equal opportunity and pay equity bodies/units
- HR technical teams, gender and diversity units, and professional evaluators
- Academics, UN staff, civil society organizations
- Members of bipartite/tripartite bodies involved in social dialogue and collective bargaining
- Trainers and practitioners supporting job evaluation and equal pay initiatives
HOW AND WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?
The course combines synchronous and asynchronous activities, including:
- Live sessions with thematic presentations and dialogue with ILO specialists and technical experts on the subject
- Individual learning through interactive technical content on the virtual platform
- Collaborative learning via an online forum, where you can share experiences and discuss key issues relevant to your work context
- An individual action plan
Programme topics:
- Legal frameworks for equal pay
- Role of the stakeholders in job evaluation processes
- Gender-sensitive job evaluation tools and approaches
- Factors and sub-factors: weighting, points, and levels
- Strategies for information gathering
- Practical application through simulation exercises (case study)
- Identifying pay differences and planning adjustments
- Exchange of experiences and good practices
WHY JOIN?
With this course, you will gain the tools to:
- Understand the gender pay gap: what it is, root causes, and how it is measured
- Navigate international standards and learn from good practices
- Promote and implement strategies for equal remuneration through gender neutral job evaluation
- Apply the ILO methodology with a gender-sensitive perspective adapted to a specific context
- Recognize the role of social dialogue and collective bargaining in achieving equal pay
- Transfer learning into practice through advice, training, and implementation
CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT
If you complete at least 80% of course activities (60 eLearning hs) and develop your individual action plan, you will receive an ITCILO Certificate of Achievement.
FUNDING
A limited number of partial fellowships are available for qualified candidates from ODA-recipient countries (Official Development Assistance). Please consult the updated recipients’ list HERE.
If you are applying for funding, please indicate this in your application form.
Prove your skills with a diploma
This course is part of one Diploma Programme
