I don't know how this gap is calculated. Is it weighted average or just average between industries.  Probably those bottom industries are dragging all statistics down. What if the three bottom lines that describe the most unpopular professions among women are removed, do we still have any significant gap if longer hours are accounted?  It is reality that both women and men can not work the same hours because more women will cave in to get home to take care of the kids. This is nature, if the government wants to fix the gap a universal daycare system is to start with.