The process of producing labour statistics inevitably simplifies reality, highlighting certain aspects and ignoring others, depending on the priorities and objectives involved and the data collection methods available. The author presents the main features needed for labour statistics to reflect fully and in all their diversity the respective situations of women and men in the labour market. She identifies the topics needing to be covered and the detail required for significant distinctions to emerge, and explains how the choice of measurement method and the manner of data presentation can influence the final result.