The topic of work-life balance affects both women and men and is a top priority for the EU. This is why it was chosen as this year’s thematic focus of the Index. In the private sphere, the unequal sharing of cleaning, cooking and caring responsibilities has hardly changed. The bulk of this unpaid work continues to fall on women. That makes it harder for them to juggle work and personal life, which impacts on their earning potential and the well-being of the women themselves and the people closest to them.