In 2010, women’s labour force participation rates remain below 30 per cent in Northern Africa and Western Asia, below 40 per cent in Southern Asia, and below 50 per cent in the Caribbean and Central America. The gap between participation rates of women and men has narrowed slightly in the last 20 years but remains considerable. The smallest gender gaps are in the early adult years and the widest in the prime working ages. In the more developed economies, the labour force - especially the female labour force - is employed predominantly in services.