Major progress has been made in advancing economic opportunities for women over the last several decades, but significant obstacles to gender equality still remain. The gender pay gap between men and women is well-documented, and research indicates that while the percentage of women in the workforce has risen dramatically in recent decades, that growth is expected to stagnate or even reverse over the next 40 years.
Airbnb cannot single-handedly tear down the many obstacles to empowerment that women face worldwide. But our platform is powered by a growing worldwide community of women hosts who are connecting with guests, each other, and their local communities. In fact, historically, women hosts have outnumbered men hosts around the world.
Since Airbnb’s founding in 2008, our community has pioneered the development of the global sharing economy. In that time, we’re proud that women Airbnb hosts have earned over $10 billion through our platform.
UN Women points to the sharing economy as one transformation that can be leveraged to have a positive impact for women. Since Airbnb’s founding in 2008, our community has pioneered the development of the global sharing economy. In that time, we’re proud that women Airbnb hosts have earned over $10 billion through our platform. With the complications that forces like automation bring, Airbnb continues to serve as a powerful way for women to independently achieve greater financial, professional, and social empowerment.
In anticipation of International Women’s Day on March 8, Airbnb has prepared our first dedicated study of women hosts in the community. Among the key findings of the report:
- Women hosts are earning significant income around the world. In 2016, the typical woman host earned:
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- US: $6,600 USD
- Spain: $3,600 USD (3,290 EUR)
- South Africa: nearly $2,000 USD (25,380 ZAR)
- Brazil: $1,750 USD (5,840 Brazilian Reals).
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- This extra income can be especially powerful in countries with developing economies. In Kenya, the typical woman host earns enough from Airbnb to cover over one-third of the average annual household expenditure. In India it covers 31 percent; and in Morocco, 20 percent.
- We estimate that over 50,000 women around the world have used Airbnb income to support entrepreneurship for themselves, launching a business or as direct investment capital for a new business they’re starting.
- Women hosts are leaders in the home sharing community: 59 percent of Superhosts are women, over 60 percent of Home Sharing Club leader hosts are women, and women represented 61 percent of the hosts who led workshops and hosting classes at the 2016 Airbnb Open.
- More women hosts than men hosts report that they use their Airbnb income to help afford their home, especially single mothers who host. Globally, 62 percent of single mother hosts report using their Airbnb income to help afford their home.
Airbnb is also proud to partner with a number of dedicated organizations in their ongoing work to support equality and empower women around the world:
- Airbnb’s partnership with Global Fund for Women supports mission-critical travel for women nonprofit leaders and activists to attend trainings across the globe.
- In our partnership with Vital Voices, Airbnb has been supporting the travel needs of extraordinary women entrepreneurs around the world to travel for market access opportunities, networking and professional development opportunities.
- Airbnb is also working with the Self-Employed Women’s Association of India (SEWA), one of India’s largest female trade unions comprised to promote women’s rural livelihood opportunities.
We are proud to celebrate our global community of women hosts, and we are committed to supporting women around the world in their journeys at home and abroad.
View the full report (PDF) here.