The representation and significance of women in the labor force have grown significantly over the past five decades around the globe. Using nationally representative data from over 90 countries, we document distinct gender patterns in employment transitions across both sectors and occupations during this period. Using a model of occupational and sectoral choice and focusing on six major economies, we find that declining gender barriers - defined as gender-specific distortions in employment and wages - have been a key driver of the observed rise in female labor force participation, the expansion of the service sector, and increases in real GDP per capita from 1970 to 2018, but with substantial variation across countries