Commission staff working document - Accompanying document to the Report from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - Equality between women and men — 2009 {COM(2009) 77 final}
Date: 2009-02-27
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: activity report, anti-discriminatory measure, equal treatment, gender equality

EN 

EN 

   EN 

 
 
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 27.2.2009 
SEC(2009) 165  

COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT 

accompanying document to the 

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE 
COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE 
COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS 

Equality between women and men — 2009 

{COM(2009) 77 final}

EN 

   EN 

 
 
 
  
 
 
 
STATISTICAL ANNEX TO THE ANNUAL REPORT ON EQUALITY BETWEEN 
WOMEN AND MEN 2009 

This statistical annex provides an overview of the situation of women and men in the EU (for 
the last year available and also compared to the past) and remaining gender gaps in various 
fields  such  as  the  labour  market,  education  and  work-life  balance.  Most  of  these  indicators 
have already been presented in previous reports, to aid follow-up from one year to another.  

Employment and unemployment rates 

Over  the  last  few  years,  female  employment  has  increased  regularly,  at  a  rate  that  was 
consistently higher than for men. The female employment rate, at 58.3% in 2007, is very close 
to  the  2010  Lisbon  objective  of  60%.  It  rose  by  almost  4  percentage  points  (p.p.)  between 
2002 and 2007, from 54.4% to 58.3%, whereas over the same period the employment rate of 
men increased by only 2.2 p.p., from 70.3% to 72.5%. As a result, the gap between women’s 
and  men’s  employment  rates  decreased  from  15.9  p.p.  in  2002  to  14.2  p.p.  in  2007.  At 
national  level,  significant  differences  exist  across  the  EU:  in  three  Member  States  (Malta, 
Italy  and  Greece)  less  than  half  of  working-age  women  are  in  employment,  whereas  this 
proportion is above 70% in Denmark (73.2%) and Sweden (71.8%). The employment rate gap 
between women and men ranged from less than 5 p.p. in Finland and Sweden to more than 25 
p.p. in Greece and Malta. In general, the employment rate gap increases with age and is the 
highest amongst older workers (55 to 64 years). In 2007, it was on average 17.9 p.p., down 
from 19.3 p.p. in 2002 due to the strong increase of the employment rate of women over 55, 
from  29.1%  in  2002  to  36%  in  2007.  Unemployment  rates  of  women  have  therefore  fallen 
from 9.7% in 2002 to 7.8% and the gap between women’s and men’s unemployment rates is 
close to 1 p.p. This gap has been decreasing, especially in countries where it was the highest 
five  years  earlier  (Spain,  Italy,  Greece,  Malta  and  France),  quite  independently  from  their 
relative cyclical positions. By contrast, the gap has increased by at least 1.5 percentage points 
in Latvia, Bulgaria and Slovakia.  

Part-time work 

The increased participation of women in the labour market is largely characterised by a high 
proportion of part-time work. In 2007, the percentage of women employees working part-time 
was  31.2%  in  the  EU-27  while  the  corresponding  figure  for  men  was  7.7%.  The  share  of 
female part-timers exceeded 30% in France, Ireland, Denmark and Luxembourg and 40% in 
Sweden,  Belgium,  Austria,  United  Kingdom  and  Germany  and  even  reached  75%  in  the 
Netherlands.  In  those  countries  part-time  work  is  more  gender-balanced  in  Denmark  and 
Sweden than in Austria, Germany, Belgium or Luxembourg. The share of part-timers among 
female workers (as among male workers) was very low in Bulgaria, Slovakia and Hungary.  

Work-life balance, childcare services and sharing of domestic and family work 

Parenthood has a significant long-term effect on women’s participation in the labour market. 
This reflects women’s predominant role in the care of children, elderly or disabled persons. In 
2007, the employment rate for women aged 25-49 was 65.5% when they had children under 
12, compared with 77.9% when they did not, a negative difference of 12.4 p.p. Interestingly, 
men  with  children  under  12  had  a  significantly higher  employment  rate  than  those  without, 
91.7% compared with 84.4%, a positive difference of 7.3 p.p. In Germany, United Kingdom, 
Estonia,  Malta  and  Ireland,  the  negative  impact  of  parenthood  on  female  employment  is 
higher than 15 p.p. and higher than 20 p.p. in Slovakia, Hungary and Czech Republic.  

EN 

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An  important  factor  impacting  on  the  parents’  (and  especially  the  mother’s)  opportunity  to 
participate in the labour market is the availability of childcare services for children under 3. In 
2006, only five Member States (DK, NL, SE, BE, ES) had exceeded the Barcelona objective 
of a 33% coverage rate, while five others (PT, UK, FR, LU, SI) were approaching this target. 
In most of the other countries, much still needs to be done to meet the demand for childcare 
facilities, especially in eight Member States (EL, HU, MT, SK, LT, AT, CZ, PL) that showed 
a coverage rate of 10% or less. In addition, attendance hours vary widely from one country to 
another,  and  in  numerous  countries  a  particularly  high  proportion  of  childcare  facilities 
operate on a part-time basis only.  

Gender  distribution  of  time  devoted  to  paid  work  vs  unpaid  domestic  and  family  work  is  a 
crucial  indicator  of  gender  equality  in  a  society.  It  appears  that  working  women  are  still 
spending,  on  average,  more  time  than  working  men  in  domestic  and  family  work  in  all 
Member  States  while  the  opposite  is  true  for  paid  employment.  In  addition,  it  appears  that 
working women have on average more ‘constrained time’ (sum of hours spent in paid work 
and in unpaid domestic and family work) than working men. Countries displaying the more 
balanced distribution of hours spent in domestic and family work are Sweden, Denmark and 
Finland  (with  a  difference  of  around  10  hours  per  week)  while  in  Italy  and  Cyprus,  this 
difference is higher than 23 hours per week. Both gender differences (in paid employment and 
in unpaid domestic and family work) would have been even more pronounced if the survey 
used (Fourth European Working conditions survey) had included non-working persons.  

At-risk-of-poverty rate for older people 

The disadvantaged position of women on the labour market increases the risk that they will be 
exposed  to  poverty.  This  was  particularly  true  for  those  aged  over  65,  amongst  whom  the 
proportion living in households at risk of poverty (i.e. having an income below the threshold 
set at 60% of the national median income) was significantly higher for women than for men in 
EU-25 in 2006 (21% compared with 16%). This was a pattern in almost all Member States. 
The gap exceeds 10 p.p. in five countries: Slovenia, Bulgaria, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia 
but is zero in Luxembourg and Portugal, and negative in the Netherlands and Malta.  

Education, fields of study and gender segregation of the labour market 

While the average educational attainment of women and men is now similar over the entire 
working-age class, young women (20-24) record a higher educational attainment than men in 
all  Member  States.  On  average,  80.8%  of  young  women  (20-24)  reached  at  least  upper 
secondary school in the EU in 2007, against only 75.4% of young men. Furthermore, women 
represent  as  much  as  59%  of  university  graduates.  However,  study  fields  continue  to  be 
greatly  segmented  with  a  low  presence  of  women  in  computing,  engineering  and  physics. 
Women represent around 60% of tertiary graduates in law and in business and administration 
and are highly over-represented in the following fields of study: journalism and information; 
humanities; health and welfare; education science.  

The choice of study fields certainly impacts on the gender segregation of the labour market, as 
regards  both  occupations  and  economic  sectors.  Estonia,  Slovakia,  Latvia,  Finland,  and 
Bulgaria  face  high  segregation  in  occupations,  whilst  segregation  in  sectors  is  highest  in 
Estonia,  Latvia,  Lithuania,  Ireland,  Slovakia  and  Finland.  Consequently  there  is  an  under-
representation  of  women  in  some  private  sectors  that  are  crucial  for  economic  growth. 
Moreover, it is expected that in the medium run, skill and labour shortages will affect mixed 

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occupations  less  than  male-  or  female-dominated  occupations,  which  adds  to  the  need  for  a 
more balanced distribution of occupations.  

Gender pay gap 

As  a  result  of  all  above  mentioned  gender  inequalities  on  the  labour  market,  there  is  a 
persisting gender pay gap in the EU. The gender pay gap (defined as the difference between 
men’s  and  women’s  average  gross  hourly  earnings  as  a  percentage  of  men’s  average  gross 
hourly earnings) is estimated in 2007 at 17.4% on average in the EU. It exceeds 25% in two 
countries  (EE  and  AT)  and  20%  in  seven  countries  (SK,  NL,  CZ,  CY,  DE,  UK  and  EL). 
However, it is below 10% in IT, MT, PL, SI and BE.  

Following the communication adopted by the Commission in 20071, Eurostat, in collaboration 
with Member States, improved the methodology used to calculate the gender pay gap in the 
EU.  Instead  of  a  mix  of  various  national  sources,  it  is  now  an  EU  harmonised  source 
(Structure of Earnings Survey) which is used, with the support of comparable national sources 
for the yearly estimates. It is to be noted that the apparent increase (from 15% in 2004, 2005 
and 2006 with the old methodology to 17.4% in 2007 with the new one) does not correspond 
to a real increase of the indicator and is the result of the change in methodology.  

Decision-making 

The  average  number  of  female  members  of  national  parliaments  (single/lower  houses)  was 
24% in 2008, one p.p. higher than in 2004. The percentage is above 35% in Spain, Belgium, 
Denmark and the Netherlands and above 40% in Finland and Sweden. However, it was below 
15% in Ireland, Slovenia and Hungary and did not exceed 10% in Malta and Romania.  

Among senior ministers of national governments (i.e. ministers with a seat in the cabinet), the 
share of women increased quite substantially from 22% in 2005 to 26% in 2008. Moreover, 
the increase was higher than 10 p.p. in Poland, Finland and Italy and higher than 15 p.p. in 
France and Belgium.  

In the economic field, women represent on average almost one-third of leaders of businesses 
in the EU, but in most countries the share is lower than that. It is below 25% in Luxembourg, 
Ireland, Finland, Malta and Cyprus but above 35% in Spain, Italy, Poland and France.  

As regards female membership of the boards (‘highest decision-making body’) of the largest 
publicly quoted companies, the situation is markedly different. Women represent on average 
only 11% of these board members at EU level. The percentage only exceeds 20% in Finland 
and Sweden; it is below 5% in Malta, Italy, Cyprus, Luxembourg and Portugal.  

1 

COM(2007)424 final - "Tackling the pay gap between women and men" 

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Employment rates (women and men aged 15 - 64) in EU Member States- 2007

72,5

58,3

Women

Men

Lisbon target 
for  total 
employment 
rate in 2010

Lisbon target 
for women's 
employment 
rate in 2010

DK SE NL FI EE UK AT LV DE SI CY LT PT IE FR EU27 BG CZ BE LU ES SK RO HU PL EL IT MT

Source:  Eurostat, Labour Force Survey (LFS), annual averages. 

Absolute gender gap in employment rates (women and men aged 15-64) in EU Member States - 2002 and 2007
 (Difference between men's and women's employment rates) 

Left bar: 2002     Right bar: 2007

15.9

14.2

FI

SE

LT

EE

DK

LV

BG

FR

SI

DE

PT

RO

UK

NL

PL

HU

BE

AT EU27 SK

LU

IE

CZ

CY

ES

IT

EL MT

Source:  Eurostat, Labour Force Survey (LFS), annual averages. 
NB:  A positive gap indicates higher employment rates for men in comparison with women, while the opposite is true for a negative gap.

t
n
e
c
r
e
p

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

i

s
t
n
o
p
e
g
a
t
n
e
c
r
e
p

45

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

EN 

5 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
Employment rates of older workers (women and men aged 55 - 64) in EU Member States- 2007

53.9

36

Women

Men

Lisbon target 
for  55-64 
aged workers 
employment 
rate in 2010

SE EE FI DK LV UK LT PT DE CY NL IE FR

EU 
27

BG RO CZ ES LU AT EL HU BE IT SI SK PL MT

Source:  Eurostat, Labour Force Survey (LFS), annual averages.

Absolute gender gap in unemployment rates (women and men aged 15 years and over) in EU 
Member States - 2002 and 2007
 (Difference between women's and men's unemployment rates) 

Left bar: 2002      Right bar: 2007

RO

EE

LV

IE

UK

DE

LT

HU

SE

DK

FI

BG

NL

FR

AT EU27 CY

PL

LU

BE MT

SI

CZ

SK

IT

PT

ES

EL

1.4 1.2

Source:  Eurostat, Labour Force Survey (LFS), annual averages. 
Notes : A positive gap indicates higher unemployment rates for women in comparison with men, while the opposite is true for a negative gap.                                 

t
n
e
c
r
e
p

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

i

s
t
n
o
p
e
g
a
t
n
e
c
r
e
p

10

8

6

4

2

0

-2

-4

EN 

6 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
Share of part-time workers in total employment (persons aged 15 and over) 
in EU Member States - 2007

Women

Men

31.2

7.7

t
n
e
c
r
e
p

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

BG SK

HU

LV

CZ

EL

LT

RO CY

SI

EE

PL

PT

FI

ES MT

IT

FR EU27 IE

DK

LU

SE

BE

AT

UK

DE

NL

Source:  Eurostat, Labour Force Survey (LFS), annual averages
 IE : Provisional figures. 

Employment impact of parenthood for women and men (aged 25-49) in 2007 
difference in percentage points in em ploym ent rates w ith presence of a child under 12 and w ithout the 
presence of any children 

men

women

CZ HU SK IE MT EE UK DE AT LU EU
27

LV

FI BG ES PL

FR IT

EL NL RO LT BE CY PT

SI

i

s
t
n
o
p
e
g
a
t
n
e
c
r
e
p

15

10

5

0

-5

-10

-15

-20

-25

-30

-35
Source: Eurostat, Labour Force Survey (LFS), Annual average.
Notes : no data available for DK and SE.  

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7 

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 Proportion of children up to 3 years cared for by formal arrangements in 2006
 up to 30 hours / 30 hours or more per usual week 

30 hours and more

less than 30 hours

%

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

DK NL SE BE ES PT UK FR LU SI

FI

IT EU-
25

CY EE DE IE LV EL HU MT SK LT AT PL CZ

Source: Eurostat, EU-SILC 2006. Provisional data for BE, DE, EL, FR, IE, LT, LU, LV, MT, NL, PL, PT, SE, SK and UK. BG and Ro : no data available for
2006. “Formal arrangements” means EU-SILC reply categories 1 to 4 (pre-school or equivalent, compulsory education, centre-based services 
outside school hours, a collective crèche or another day-care centre, including family day-care, professional certified childminders). 

Difference between working women's and men's average time spent  in domestic and family work 
and in paid employment, in 2005 (by week)

Difference in hours spent in domestic and family work

Difference in hours spent in paid employment (incl.commuting)

SE

FI DK LT LV BE EE DE MT CZ AT PT HU BG EU27 FR UK SK ES

IE

PL RO LU SI

EL

NL

IT CY

s
r
u
o
h

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

-5

-10

-15

Source: Fourth EWCS, 2005. A positive value indicates that more time is spent on average by w omen than by men (for the related activity), w hile the opposite is 
true for a negative value. It has to be noted that the sample used only includes people w ho w ere in paid employment in the reference w eek of the survey. Due to 
this limitation, caution should be exercised in interpreting the differences betw een w omen and men's average time spent for both paid employment and unpaid 
domestic and family w ork. For instance, as regards paid employment, gender differences mainly reflect different patterns in the gender distribution of part-time 
among EU Member States and not in the gender distribution of participation in employment in general. If all w orking age persons w ere included (and not only those
in paid employment) one w ould expect that both differences in time-use betw een w omen and men w ould be more pronounced.

EN 

8 

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Educational attainment (at least upper secondary school) of women and men aged 20 - 24, 
in EU Member States - 2007

women men

80.8

75.4

t
n
e
c
r
e
p

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

SI

PL

CZ

SK

LT

CY

IE

EE

SE

FI

EL

HU

AT

FR

BE

LV

BG EU27 NL

IT

UK

DK

RO

LU

DE

ES

PT MT

Source : Eurostat, Labour Force Survey (LFS), annual averages.
NB:  DK :  Break in series 
Students living abroad for one year or more and conscripts on compulsory military service are not covered by the EU Labour Force Survey, 
which may imply lower rates than those available at national level. This is especially relevant for CY.

Sex distribution of tertiary education graduates by field of study and in total, in EU-27, 2006 

Women

Men

100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

Source  : Eurostat - Tertiary education graduates include all graduates of levels ISCED 5 and 6. 

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9 

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Gender segregation in occupations in EU Member States, in 2007

35.0

30.0

25.0

20.0

15.0

10.0

5.0

0.0

EL RO MT

IT NL UK BE DK PL AT SI DE PT FR SE LU ES

IE CZ HU CY LT BG FI

LV SK EE

Source:  Eurostat - LFS, Spring data.  Gender segregation in occupations is calculated as the average national share of employment for w omen 
and men applied to each occupation; differences are added up to produce the total amount of gender imbalance expressed as a proportion of 
total employment (ISCO classification).

Gender segregation in economic sectors in EU Member States, in 2007

25.0

20.0

15.0

10.0

5.0

0.0

MT EL RO SI

IT NL FR AT DE BE UK DK LU PL CZ HU CY PT ES BG SE FI SK

IE

LT LV EE

Source:  Eurostat - LFS, Spring data. Gender segregation in sectors is calculated as the average national share of employment for w omen 
and men applied to each sector; differences are added up to produce the total amount of gender imbalance expressed as a proportion of total 
employment (NACE classification). 

EN 

10 

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Pay gap between women and men in unadjusted form in EU Member States - 2007 
(Difference between men's and wo men's average gro ss ho urly earnings as a percentage o f men's average gro ss ho urly earnings)

t
n
e
c
r
e
p

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

IT MT PL

PT

SI

BE LU BG RO LV FR HU IE EU27 ES DK SE

FI

LT

EL UK DE CY CZ NL

SK AT EE

Source:  Eurostat. Structure of Earnings Survey 2006 and national sources (2007) for yearly SES-comparable estimates. Provisional data for 
EU-27, BE, BG, EE, EL, ES, FI, FR, IT, MT and UK. See introductory text of the statistical annex for detailed information.

At-risk-of-poverty rate after social transfers1 for older people (women and men aged 65 years and 
over), in EU Member states, 2006

women

men

t
n
e
c
r
e
p

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

21

16

NL CZ 

LU

PL

SK HU DE

SE

FR

DK

AT MT EU25 RO BG

SI

IT

BE

FI

PT

EL

LT

UK

EE

IE

ES

LV

CY

Source:  Eurostat. SILC and national sources. 
NB:  1) At risk of poverty rate for elderly persons: The share of persons aged 65+ with an income below the risk-of-poverty threshold, which is set at 60% of the national 
median income. Income must be understood as equivalised disposable income (sum from all sources, adjusted for household size and composition). It should be 
noted that the risk-of-poverty indicator is computed using an income definition which does not yet include imputed rent of owner-occupiers. Comparisons between 
genders are based on the assumption of equal sharing of resources within households. 
Source: EU-25: SILC(2006)  Income data 2005. BG: National HBS 2006, income data 2006 and RO National HBS 2006, income data 2006. Exception to the income 
reference period UK: income year 2006 and  IE: moving income reference period (2005-2006).  EU aggregates are Eurostat estimates and computed as population 
weighted averages of national values. 

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11 

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Sex distribution of members of single/lower houses of national parliaments in EU Member States -
in 2004 and 2008 (1)

Left bar: 2004        Right bar: 2008

women 

men

t
n
e
c
r
e
p

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

77

76

24

23

S E F I

N L D K B E E S D E A T P T

L U

EU27

L T B G E E

I T

L V P L

S K U K F R E L C Y C Z

I E S I

H U R O M T

Source:  European Commission, Employment, Social affairs and Equal opportunities DG, Database on Women and Men in Decisionmaking
NB: (1) Data for 2008 have been collected in October 2008. The indicator has been developed within the framework of the follow-up of the 
Beijing Platform for Action in the EU Council of Ministers. BG and RO : data for 2004 are extracted from the IPU database (collected in Sept. 
2004)  EU aggregate : for 2004, the value is for EU-25 and not EU-27. 

Sex distribution of senior ministers in national governments in EU Member States - in 2005 and 2008  (1)

Left bar: 2005        Right bar: 2008

women 

men

t
n
e
c
r
e
p

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

78

74

26

22

EU27

F I

E S S E B E D E D K A T

F R U K N L

B G P L M T E E

L V

I E

L U

I T S I

L T H U P T C Z E L C Y S K R O

Source:  European Commission, Employment, Social affairs and Equal opportunities DG, Database on Women and Men in Decisionmaking
NB: (1) Data for 2005 have been collected in December 2005 and data for 2008 have been collected in October 2008. The indicator has been 
developed within the framework of the follow-up of the Beijing Platform for Action in the EU Council of Ministers. A senior minister is a minister in 
the national government that has a seat in the cabinet. 

EN 

12 

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Sex distribution of leaders of businesses, in 2007 

Women

Men

t
n
e
c
r
e
p

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

68

32

FR PL

IT

ES LV UK EU-
27

PT

LT EE AT BE BG DE SK HU EL CZ NL RO DK

SI

SE LU

IE

FI MT CY

Source:  Eurostat, Labour Force Survey (LFS).
NB:  Leaders of businesses covers ISCO (International Standard Classification of Occupations) categories 121 (Directors and chief executives) and 13 
(Managers of small enterprises). 
FR : the figures exclude Directors and CEOs for which data are not available.

Sex distribution of members of the highest decision making body of largest publicly 
quoted companies in 2008

Women

Men

t
n
e
c
r
e
p

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

89

11

SE

FI

SI

SK DK HU LT

LV NL DE CZ UK RO BG EU-
27

PL

FR EE ES

IE

BE AT

EL MT

IT

CY LU PT

Source:  European Commission, Employment, Social affairs and Equal opportunities DG, Database on women and men in decision-making. 
Data have been collected in October 2008. The list of the largest publicly quoted companies is based for each country on current membership 
of blue-chip index. In countries for which the blue-chip index includes a small number of companies (for instance LU, SK), at least the 10 
largest companies were covered. 

EN 

13 

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Employment rates (women and men aged 15-64) in EU Member States — 2002 and 2007 

Women 

Men 

Gender gap 

EU-27 
Belgium 
Bulgaria 
Czech Republic 
Denmark 
Germany  
Estonia 
Ireland 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Italy 
Cyprus 
Latvia 
Lithuania 
Luxembourg  
Hungary 
Malta 
Netherlands 
Austria 
Poland 
Portugal 
Romania 
Slovenia 
Slovakia 
Finland 
Sweden 
United Kingdom 

2002 
54.4 
51.4 
47.5 
57 
71.7 
58.9 
57.9 
55.4 
42.9 
44.4 
56.7 
42 
59.1 
56.8 
57.2 
51.6 
49.8 
33.9 
66.2 
61.3 
46.2 
61.4 
51.8 
58.6 
51.4 
66.2 
72.2 
65.2 

2007 
58.3 
55.3 
57.6 
57.3 
73.2 
64 
65.9 
60.6 
47.9 
54.7 
60 
46.6 
62.4 
64.4 
62.2 
56.1 
50.9 
35.7 
69.6 
64.4 
50.6 
61.9 
52.8 
62.6 
53 
68.5 
71.8 
65.5 

2002 
70.4 
68.3 
53.7 
73.9 
80 
71.8 
66.5 
75.4 
72.2 
72.6 
69.5 
69.1 
78.9 
64.3 
62.7 
75.1 
62.9 
74.7 
82.4 
76.4 
56.9 
76.5 
63.6 
68.2 
62.4 
70 
74.9 
77.7 

2007 
72.5 
68.7 
66 
74.8 
81 
74.7 
73.2 
77.4 
74.9 
76.2 
69.3 
70.7 
80 
72.5 
67.9 
72.3 
64 
72.9 
82.2 
78.4 
63.6 
73.8 
64.8 
72.7 
68.4 
72.1 
76.5 
77.5 

2002 
16 
16.9 
6.2 
16.9 
8.3 
12.9 
8.6 
20 
29.3 
28.2 
12.8 
27.1 
19.8 
7.5 
5.5 
23.5 
13.1 
40.8 
16.2 
15.1 
10.7 
15.1 
11.8 
9.6 
11 
3.8 
2.7 
12.5 

2007 
14.2 
13.4 
8.4 
17.5 
7.8 
10.7 
7.3 
16.8 
27 
21.5 
9.3 
24.1 
17.6 
8.1 
5.7 
16.2 
13.1 
37.2 
12.6 
14 
13 
11.9 
12 
10.1 
15.4 
3.6 
4.7 
12 

Eurostat, Labour Force Survey (LFS), annual averages 

Employment rates of older workers (women and men aged 55-64) in EU Member States — 2002 and 2007 

Women 

Men 

Gender gap 

EU-27 
Belgium 
Bulgaria 
Czech Republic 
Denmark 
Germany 
Estonia 
Ireland 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Italy 
Cyprus 
Latvia 
Lithuania 
Luxembourg 
Hungary 
Malta 
Netherlands 
Austria 
Poland 
Portugal 
Romania 
Slovenia 
Slovakia 
Finland 
Sweden 
United Kingdom 

2002 
29.1 
17.5 
18.2 
25.9 
50.4 
30.6 
46.5 
30.8 
24 
21.9 
30.8 
17.3 
32.2 
35.2 
34.1 
18.4 
17.6 
10.9 
29.9 
19.3 
18.9 
42.2 
32.6 
14.2 
9.5 
47.2 
65.6 
44.5 

2007 
36 
26 
34.5 
33.5 
52.4 
43.6 
60.5 
39.6 
26.9 
30 
36.2 
23 
40.3 
52.4 
47.9 
28.6 
26.2 
11.6 
40.1 
28 
19.4 
44 
33.6 
22.2 
21.2 
55 
67 
48.9 

2002 
48.4 
36 
37 
57.2 
64.5 
47.3 
58.4 
65 
55.9 
58.4 
38.7 
41.3 
67.3 
50.5 
51.5 
37.7 
35.5 
50.8 
54.6 
39.6 
34.5 
61.9 
42.7 
35.4 
39.1 
48.5 
70.4 
62.6 

2007 
53.9 
42.9 
51.8 
59.6 
64.9 
59.7 
59.4 
67.9 
59.1 
60 
40.5 
45.1 
72.5 
64.6 
60.8 
35.6 
41.7 
45.9 
61.5 
49.8 
41.4 
58.6 
50.3 
45.3 
52.5 
55.1 
72.9 
66.3 

2002 
19.3 
18.5 
18.8 
31.3 
14.1 
16.7 
11.9 
34.2 
31.9 
36.5 
7.9 
24 
35.1 
15.3 
17.4 
19.3 
17.9 
39.9 
24.7 
20.3 
15.6 
19.7 
10.1 
21.2 
29.6 
1.3 
4.8 
18.1 

2007 
17.9 
16.9 
17.3 
26.1 
12.5 
16.1 
-1.1 
28.3 
32.2 
30 
4.3 
22.1 
32.2 
12.2 
12.9 
7 
15.5 
34.3 
21.4 
21.8 
22 
14.6 
16.7 
23.1 
31.3 
0.1 
5.9 
17.4 

Eurostat, Labour Force Survey (LFS), annual averages 

EN 

14 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Unemployment rates (women and men aged 15 and over) in EU Member States — 2002 and 2007 
In this table, the gender gap is calculated as women's unemployment rate minus men's unemployment rate 
Gender gap 

Women 

Men 

EU-27 
Belgium  
Bulgaria  
Czech Republic  
Denmark  
Germany  
Estonia  
Ireland  
Greece  
Spain  
France  
Italy  
Cyprus  
Latvia  
Lithuania  
Luxembourg  
Hungary  
Malta  
Netherlands  
Austria  
Poland  
Portugal  
Romania  
Slovenia  
Slovakia  
Finland  
Sweden  
United Kingdom  

2002 
9.7 
8.6 
17.3 
9 
5 
7.9 
9.7 
4.1 
15.7 
15.7 
9.7 
11.5 
4.5 
11 
12.8 
3.5 
5.4 
9.3 
3.1 
4.4 
21 
6.1 
7.9 
6.8 
18.7 
9.1 
4.6 
4.5 

2007 
7.8 
8.5 
7.3 
6.7 
4.2 
8.3 
3.9 
4.2 
12.8 
10.9 
8.9 
7.9 
4.6 
5.6 
4.3 
5.1 
7.7 
7.6 
3.6 
5 
10.4 
9.7 
5.4 
5.9 
12.7 
7.2 
6.4 
5 

2002 
8.3 
6.7 
18.9 
6 
4.3 
8.8 
10.8 
4.8 
6.8 
8.1 
7.7 
6.7 
2.9 
13.3 
14.2 
2 
6.2 
6.6 
2.5 
4 
19.2 
4.2 
9.2 
5.9 
18.6 
9.1 
5.3 
5.7 

2007 
6.6 
6.7 
6.5 
4.2 
3.5 
8.5 
5.4 
5 
5.2 
6.4 
7.8 
4.9 
3.4 
6.4 
4.3 
3.4 
7.1 
5.8 
2.8 
3.9 
9 
6.7 
7.2 
4 
9.9 
6.5 
5.8 
5.6 

2002 
1.4 
1.9 
-1.6 
3 
0.7 
-0.9 
-1.1 
-0.7 
8.9 
7.6 
2 
4.8 
1.6 
-2.3 
-1.4 
1.5 
-0.8 
2.7 
0.6 
0.4 
1.8 
1.9 
-1.3 
0.9 
0.1 
0 
-0.7 
-1.2 

2007 
1.2 
1.8 
0.8 
2.5 
0.7 
-0.2 
-1.5 
-0.8 
7.6 
4.5 
1.1 
3 
1.2 
-0.8 
0 
1.7 
0.6 
1.8 
0.8 
1.1 
1.4 
3 
-1.8 
1.9 
2.8 
0.7 
0.6 
-0.6 

Eurostat, Labour Force Survey (LFS), annual averages 

Share of part-time workers in total employment (persons aged 15 and over), in EU Member States — 2002 
and 2007 

Women 

Men 

EU-27 
Belgium 
Bulgaria 
Czech Republic 
Denmark 
Germany 
Estonia 
Ireland 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Italy 
Cyprus 
Latvia 
Lithuania 
Luxembourg 
Hungary 
Malta 
Netherlands 
Austria 
Poland 
Portugal 
Romania 
Slovenia 
Slovakia 
Finland 
Sweden 
United Kingdom 

2002 
28.5 
37.4 
3 
8.3 
30.3 
39.5 
10.7 
30.6 
8 
16.8 
29.8 
16.9 
11.3 
12 
12.3 
25.3 
5.1 
18.3 
73.1 
35.9 
13.4 
16.4 
13 
7.5 
2.7 
17.5 
33.1 
43.8 

2007 
31.2 
40.6 
2.1 
8.5 
36.2 
45.8 
12.1 
(32.3) 
10.1 
22.8 
30.2 
26.9 
10.9 
8 
10.2 
37.2 
5.8 
24.6 
75 
41.2 
12.5 
16.9 
10.4 
11.3 
4.5 
19.3 
40 
42.2 

2002 
6.6 
5.6 
2.1 
2.2 
11.1 
5.8 
4.8 
6.5 
2.3 
2.6 
5.2 
3.5 
4 
7.6 
9.4 
1.8 
2.3 
3.9 
21.2 
5.1 
8.5 
7 
10.9 
4.9 
1.1 
8.3 
11.1 
9.6 

2007 
7.7 
7.5 
1.3 
2.3 
13.5 
9.4 
4.3 
(7.2) 
2.7 
4.1 
5.7 
5 
4.4 
4.9 
7 
2.6 
2.8 
4.4 
23.6 
7.2 
6.6 
8 
9.2 
7.7 
1.1 
9.3 
11.8 
10.8 

Eurostat, Labour Force Survey (LFS) – annual averages. Provisional data for IE in 2007.  

EN 

15 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
Employment impact of parenthood for women and men (aged 25-49) in 2007 
Difference in percentage points in employment rates with presence of a child under 12 and without any children  

EU-27 
Belgium 
Bulgaria 
Czech Republic 
Germany 
Estonia 
Ireland 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Italy 
Cyprus 
Latvia 
Lithuania 
Luxembourg 
Hungary 
Malta 
Netherlands 
Austria 
Poland 
Portugal 
Romania 
Slovenia 
Slovakia 
Finland 
United Kingdom 

Women 
-12.4 
-5.5 
-11.5 
-32.3 
-16.2 
-18.2 
-19.7 
-8.9 
-11.2 
-10.1 
-9.2 
-5.2 
-11.8 
-6.0 
-12.6 
-27.5 
-18.6 
-8.7 
-14.1 
-11.1 
-0.8 
-6.2 
1.9 
-24.2 
-11.7 
-17.4 

Men 
7.3 
7.1 
3.5 
4.5 
7.1 
6.2 
6.2 
9.6 
8.1 
7.3 
10.3 
7.1 
7.6 
7.5 
6.4 
4.3 
5.1 
4.8 
3.8 
11.2 
8.4 
5.5 
7.7 
5.9 
10.0 
4.4 

Source: Eurostat, labour force survey (LFS), Annual average. Notes: no data available for DK and SE 

Proportion of children up to 3 years cared for by formal arrangements in 2006 (up to 30 hours / 30 hours or 
more per usual week) in 2006 

EU-25 
Belgium 
Czech Republic 
Denmark 
Germany 
Estonia 
Ireland 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Italy 
Cyprus 
Latvia 
Lithuania 
Luxembourg 
Hungary 
Malta 
Netherlands 
Austria 
Poland 
Portugal 
Slovenia 
Slovakia 
Finland 
Sweden 
United Kingdom 

Up to 30 hours 
14 
17 
1 
7 
11 
6 
13 
2 
20 
14 
10 
7 
2 
0 
14 
2 
5 
41 
3 
0 
1 
3 
1 
5 
17 
28 

30 hours and more 
12 
23 
1 
66 
7 
12 
5 
8 
19 
17 
16 
18 
14 
4 
17 
6 
3 
4 
1 
2 
32 
26 
4 
21 
27 
5 

Total  
26 
40 
2 
73 
18 
18 
18 
10 
39 
31 
26 
25 
16 
4 
31 
8 
8 
45 
4 
2 
33 
29 
5 
26 
44 
33 

Source: Eurostat, EU-SILC 2006. Provisional data for BE, DE, EL, FR, IE, LT, LU, LV, MT, NL, PL, PT, SE, SK and UK. BG and RO : no data available for 
2006.  “Formal  arrangements”  means  EU-SILC  reply  categories  1  to  4  (pre-school  or  equivalent,  compulsory  education,  centre-based  services  outside  school 
hours, a collective crèche or another day-care centre, including family day-care, professional certified childminders).  

EN 

16 

   EN 

 
 
 
Average time spent per week in domestic and family work and in paid employment, in 2005 (by sex)  

Women 

Men 

Gender gap 

EU-27 
Belgium  
Bulgaria  
Czech Republic  
Denmark  
Germany  
Estonia  
Ireland  
Greece  
Spain  
France  
Italy  
Cyprus  
Latvia  
Lithuania  
Luxembourg  
Hungary  
Malta  
Netherlands  
Austria  
Poland  
Portugal  
Romania  
Slovenia  
Slovakia  
Finland  
Sweden  
United Kingdom  

Domestic and 
family work 
25.5 
22.9 
24.4 
20.8 
20.9 
18.7 
25.3 
27.2 
28.8 
24.4 
26.2 
31.0 
33.1 
24.0 
16.6 
32.9 
26.3 
22.6 
36.6 
20.6 
28.0 
25.4 
29.0 
30.9 
26.6 
18.8 
17.4 
28.7 

Paid 
employment 
38.1 
35.9 
46.9 
41.8 
36.4 
37.4 
42.5 
34.3 
43.6 
40.3 
36.2 
36.3 
40.7 
44.2 
42.2 
36.9 
43.1 
38.5 
29.5 
38.6 
44.4 
43.6 
49.5 
43.7 
44.4 
38.6 
38.2 
32.0 

Domestic and 
family work 
7.8 
9.3 
7.0 
5.5 
10.8 
4.8 
11.6 
7.5 
7.1 
4.8 
8.2 
7.7 
6.3 
11.6 
5.3 
12.5 
10.0 
7.7 
14.3 
4.8 
8.1 
9.5 
9.0 
10.1 
7.7 
8.8 
9.6 
10.5 

Paid 
employment 
45.5 
44.7 
48.7 
47.0 
42.9 
44.9 
46.1 
46.7 
53.1 
46.1 
40.5 
44.8 
44.2 
47.8 
46.7 
44.8 
49.6 
46.7 
43.2 
46.0 
50.4 
46.3 
53.1 
46.1 
49.0 
43.1 
44.8 
44.1 

Domestic and 
family work 
17.7 
13.6 
17.5 
15.4 
10.1 
13.9 
13.6 
19.7 
21.7 
19.5 
18.1 
23.3 
26.8 
12.4 
11.2 
20.4 
16.2 
14.9 
22.3 
15.8 
19.9 
15.9 
20.1 
20.7 
18.9 
10.0 
7.8 
18.2 

Paid 
employment 
-7.4 
-8.9 
-1.8 
-5.3 
-6.5 
-7.5 
-3.6 
-12.4 
-9.5 
-5.7 
-4.3 
-8.5 
-3.5 
-3.6 
-4.5 
-8.0 
-6.5 
-8.2 
-13.7 
-7.4 
-6.0 
-2.6 
-3.5 
-2.4 
-4.6 
-4.5 
-6.6 
-12.0 

Source: Fourth EWCS, 2005. For the columns "gender gap", a positive value indicates that more time is spent on average by women than by men (for the related 
activity),  while  the  opposite  is  true  for  a  negative  value.  It  has  to  be  noted  that  the  sample  used  only  includes  people  who  were  in  paid  employment  in  the 
reference week of the survey. Due to this limitation, caution should be exercised in interpreting the differences between women and men's average time spent for 
both paid employment and unpaid domestic and family work. For instance, as regards paid employment, gender differences mainly reflect different patterns in 
the gender distribution of part-time among EU Member States and not in the gender distribution of participation in employment in general. If all working age 
persons were included (and not only those in paid employment) one would expect that both differences in time-use between women and men would be more 
pronounced. 

Educational attainment (at least upper secondary school) of women and men aged 20 – 24, in EU Member 
States — 2002 and 2007 

Women 

Men 

EU-27 
Belgium  
Bulgaria  
Czech Republic  
Denmark  
Germany  
Estonia  
Ireland  
Greece  
Spain  
France  
Italy  
Cyprus  
Latvia  
Lithuania  
Luxembourg  
Hungary  
Malta  
Netherlands  
Austria  
Poland  
Portugal  
Romania  
Slovenia  
Slovakia  
Finland  
Sweden  
United Kingdom  

2002 
79.3 
84.8 
79.5 
92 
82.6 
73.8 
85.8 
87.3 
86 
70.3 
82.8 
74.3 
89.5 
84.3 
83.2 
65.5 
86.3 
42.2 
77.4 
84.6 
91.9 
52.9 
77.7 
93.3 
95.4 
89 
88.3 
77.6 

2007 
80.8 
84.9 
83.6 
92.4 
77.7 
74.4 
89.6 
89.7 
87 
67.3 
85 
80 
91 
84.1 
91.5 
76.4 
85.6 
59.6 
80.5 
85.4 
93.4 
60.8 
77.7 
94.3 
92.1 
88 
89 
79 

2002 
74 
78.5 
75.2 
92.4 
74.3 
72.6 
77.1 
80.7 
76.1 
57.4 
80.5 
64.8 
76.7 
70 
79.4 
74 
85.5 
36.1 
68.8 
86.1 
86.5 
36.1 
74.8 
88.3 
93.5 
82.6 
85.2 
76.6 

2007 
75.5 
80.4 
83 
91.3 
64.2 
70.6 
72.2 
83.7 
77.5 
55.1 
79.8 
72.7 
79.8 
76.4 
86.5 
65.6 
82.5 
51.8 
71.9 
82.7 
89.7 
46.3 
77.1 
89 
90.5 
84.8 
85.4 
77.2 

Source: Eurostat, Labour Force Survey (LFS), annual averages. 
NB: DK: Break in series  
Students living abroad for one year or more and conscripts on compulsory military service are not covered by the EU Labour Force Survey, which may imply 
lower rates than those available at national level. This is especially relevant for CY. 

EN 

17 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
Gender segregation in occupations and in economic sectors in EU Member States, in 2002 and 2007 

Gender segregation in 
occupations 

Gender segregation in 
economic sectors 

Belgium 
Bulgaria 
Czech Republic 
Denmark 
Germany 
Estonia 
Ireland 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Italy 
Cyprus 
Latvia 
Lithuania 
Luxembourg 
Hungary 
Malta 
Netherlands 
Austria 
Poland 
Portugal 
Romania 
Slovenia 
Slovakia 
Finland 
Sweden 
United Kingdom 

2002 
25.3 
27.1 
29.6 
28.3 
26.9 
30.4 
26.9 
21.6 
25.3 
26.3 
21.8 
28.8 
28.6 
27.3 
27.1 
28.1 
24.5 
24.5 
27.8 
25.3 
27.6 
11.9 
27.1 
30.8 
29.4 
27.8 
26.5 

2007 
25.7 
29.4 
28.5 
25.7 
26.5 
32.2 
27.9 
22.4 
27.4 
26.7 
23.6 
28.9 
30.2 
29.2 
27.2 
28.8 
23.6 
25.0 
26.2 
25.8 
26.5 
23.2 
26.3 
30.3 
29.5 
26.9 
25.3 

2002 
18.2 
18.1 
19.3 
18.5 
18.1 
22.5 
21.0 
15.4 
19.5 
17.5 
15.4 
18.1 
21.7 
21.5 
19.7 
19.5 
18.0 
16.7 
20.4 
13.7 
22.2 
14.6 
17.6 
22.5 
21.6 
21.5 
18.9 

2007 
18.6 
20.8 
19.7 
18.9 
18.4 
26.1 
23.3 
15.9 
20.7 
18.3 
17.8 
20.1 
23.5 
23.4 
19.0 
20.1 
14.9 
17.9 
18.3 
19.2 
20.6 
16.1 
17.2 
23.2 
22.9 
21.3 
18.6 

Eurostat, Labour Force Survey (LFS) — Spring data. Data lack comparability due to changes in certain survey characteristics: For occupations, RO: based until 
2004 on ISCO 1 digit. Break in series for FR, LU, IT, AT, DE, ES and SE.  
Gender segregation in occupations is calculated as the average national share of employment for women and men applied to each occupation; differences are 
added up to produce the total amount of gender imbalance expressed as a proportion of total employment (ISCO classification). Gender segregation in sectors is 
calculated  as  the  average  national  share  of  employment  for  women  and  men  applied  to  each  sector;  differences  are  added  up  to  produce  the  total  amount  of 
gender imbalance expressed as a proportion of total employment (NACE classification). 

Pay gap between women and men in unadjusted form in EU Member States — 2007 (Difference between men’s and 
women’s average gross hourly earnings as a percentage of men’s average gross hourly earnings) 

EU-27 
Belgium 
Bulgaria 
Czech Republic 
Denmark 
Germany 
Estonia 
Ireland 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Italy 
Cyprus 
Latvia 
Lithuania 
Luxembourg 
Hungary 
Malta 
Netherlands 
Austria 
Poland 
Portugal 
Romania 
Slovenia 
Slovakia 
Finland 
Sweden 
United Kingdom 

2007 
17.4 
9.1 
12.7 
23.6 
17.7 
23.0 
30.3 
17.1 
20.7 
17.6 
15.8 
4.4 
23.1 
15.4 
20.0 
10.0 
16.3 
5.2 
23.6 
25.5 
7.5 
8.3 
12.7 
8.3 
23.6 
20.0 
17.9 
21.1 

Source: Eurostat. Structure of Earnings Survey 2006 and national sources (2007) for yearly SES-comparable estimates. Provisional data for EU-27, BE, BG, EE, 
EL, ES, FI, FR, IT, MT and UK. See introductory text of the statistical annex for detailed information.  

EN 

18 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
At-risk-of-poverty rate after social transfers for older people (women and men aged 65 years and over) in EU 
Member States —2006 

Men 
16 
21 
9 
2 
16 
11 
14 
23 
23 
28 
14 
18 
50 
17 
10 
8 
7 
22 
7 
11 
6 
26 
13 
12 
4 
16 
7 
25 

EU-25 
Belgium 
Bulgaria 
Czech Republic 
Denmark 
Germany 
Estonia 
Ireland 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Italy 
Cyprus 
Latvia 
Lithuania 
Luxembourg 
Hungary 
Malta 
Netherlands 
Austria 
Poland 
Portugal 
Romania 
Slovenia 
Slovakia 
Finland 
Sweden 
United Kingdom 

Women 
21 
25 
24 
8 
19 
14 
31 
31 
27 
33 
18 
25 
54 
36 
28 
8 
11 
20 
6 
20 
9 
26 
22 
25 
11 
26 
15 
30 
Source: Eurostat. SILC and national sources.  
NB: At risk of poverty rate for elderly persons: The share of persons aged 65+ with an income below the risk-of-poverty threshold, which is set at 60% of the 
national median income. Income must be understood as equivalised disposable income (sum from all sources, adjusted for household size and composition). It 
should  be  noted  that  the  risk-of-poverty  indicator  is  computed  using  an  income  definition  which  does  not  yet  include  imputed  rent  of  owner-occupiers. 
Comparisons between genders are based on the assumption of equal sharing of resources within households.  
Source: EU-25: SILC(2006) Income data 2005. BG: National HBS 2006, income data 2006 and RO National HBS 2006, income data 2006. Exception to the 
income reference period UK: income year 2006 and IE: moving income reference period (2005-2006). EU aggregates are Eurostat estimates and computed as 
population weighted averages of national values.  

Members of single/lower  houses  of  national  parliaments  in  EU  Member  States  — Distribution  by sex 2004 
and 2008 (1) 

2004 

2008 

EU-27 
Belgium 
Bulgaria 
Czech Republic 
Denmark 
Germany 
Estonia 
Ireland 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Italy 
Cyprus 
Latvia 
Lithuania 
Luxembourg 
Hungary 
Malta 
Netherlands 
Austria 
Poland 
Portugal 
Romania 
Slovenia 
Slovakia 
Finland 
Sweden 
United Kingdom 

Women 
23 
33 
26 
15 
38 
32 
15 
12 
13 
35 
13 
12 
9 
17 
22 
24 
9 
9 
38 
36 
21 
20 
11 
13 
17 
40 
48 
18 

Men 
77 
67 
74 
85 
62 
68 
85 
88 
87 
65 
87 
88 
91 
83 
78 
76 
91 
91 
62 
64 
79 
80 
89 
87 
83 
60 
52 
82 

Women 
24 
37 
22 
16 
38 
33 
21 
13 
16 
35 
19 
21 
16 
21 
23 
25 
11 
9 
41 
31 
20 
29 
10 
13 
19 
41 
46 
19 

Men 
76 
63 
78 
84 
62 
67 
79 
87 
84 
65 
81 
79 
84 
79 
77 
75 
89 
91 
59 
69 
80 
71 
90 
87 
81 
59 
54 
81 

Source: European Commission, Employment, Social affairs and Equal opportunities DG, Database on Women and Men in Decision making 
NB: (1) Data for 2008 have been collected in October 2008. The indicator has been developed within the framework of the follow-up of the Beijing Platform for 
Action in the EU Council of Ministers. BG and RO: data for 2004 are extracted from the IPU database (collected in Sept. 2004). EU aggregate: for 2004, the 
value is for EU-25 and not EU-27.  

EN 

19 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
Sex distribution of senior ministers in national governments in EU Member States — in 2005 and 2008 (1) 

2005 

2008 

EU-27 
Belgium 
Bulgaria 
Czech Republic 
Denmark 
Germany 
Estonia 
Ireland 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Italy 
Cyprus 
Latvia 
Lithuania 
Luxembourg 
Hungary 
Malta 
Netherlands 
Austria 
Poland 
Portugal 
Romania 
Slovenia 
Slovakia 
Finland 
Sweden 
United Kingdom 

Women 
22 
23 
32 
10 
28 
29 
17 
21 
6 
50 
18 
4 
0 
24 
15 
15 
12 
15 
31 
55 
14 
13 
20 
7 
7 
47 
50 
32 

Men 
78 
77 
68 
90 
72 
71 
83 
79 
94 
50 
82 
96 
100 
76 
85 
85 
88 
85 
69 
45 
86 
87 
80 
93 
93 
53 
50 
68 

Women 
26 
40 
26 
11 
37 
38 
21 
20 
11 
50 
34 
18 
8 
21 
14 
20 
13 
22 
28 
36 
25 
12 
0 
17 
6 
60 
45 
32 

Men 
74 
60 
74 
89 
63 
62 
79 
80 
89 
50 
66 
82 
92 
79 
86 
80 
87 
78 
72 
64 
75 
88 
100 
83 
94 
40 
55 
68 

Source: European Commission, Employment, Social affairs and Equal opportunities DG, Database on Women and Men in Decision making.  
NB: (1) Data for 2005 have been collected in December 2005 and data for 2008 have been collected in October 2008. The indicator has been developed within 
the framework of the follow-up of the Beijing Platform for Action in the EU Council of Ministers. A senior minister is a minister in the national government that 
has a seat in the cabinet.  

Sex distribution of leaders of businesses, in 2007 

2007 

EU-27 
Belgium 
Bulgaria 
Czech Republic 
Denmark 
Germany 
Estonia 
Ireland 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Italy 
Cyprus 
Latvia 
Lithuania 
Luxembourg 
Hungary 
Malta 
Netherlands 
Austria 
Poland 
Portugal 
Romania 
Slovenia 
Slovakia 
Finland 
Sweden 
United Kingdom 

Women 
32.3 
30.8 
30.1 
27.6 
26.2 
29.8 
31.9 
21.1 
28.7 
34.9 
39.2 
35.0 
9.7 
34.2 
32.1 
22.3 
28.9 
12.3 
27.5 
31.9 
35.0 
32.1 
27.1 
25.7 
29.5 
17.4 
24.5 
33.2 

Men 
67.7 
69.2 
69.9 
72.4 
73.8 
70.2 
68.1 
78.9 
71.3 
65.1 
60.8 
65.0 
90.3 
65.8 
67.9 
77.7 
71.1 
87.7 
72.5 
68.1 
65.0 
67.9 
72.9 
74.3 
70.5 
82.6 
75.5 
66.8 

Source: Eurostat, Labour Force Survey (LFS).  
NB: Leaders of businesses covers ISCO (International Standard Classification of Occupations) categories 121 (Directors and chief executives) and 13 (Managers 
of small enterprises).  
For MT and CY: data lack reliability due to small sample size. 
FR: the figures exclude Directors and CEOs for which data are not available 

EN 

20 

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Sex distribution of members of the highest decision making body of largest publicly quoted companies in 2008 

2008 

EU-27 
Belgium 
Bulgaria 
Czech Republic 
Denmark 
Germany 
Estonia 
Ireland 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Italy 
Cyprus 
Latvia 
Lithuania 
Luxembourg 
Hungary 
Malta 
Netherlands 
Austria 
Poland 
Portugal 
Romania 
Slovenia 
Slovakia 
Finland 
Sweden 
United Kingdom 

Women 
11 
7 
12 
13 
17 
13 
8 
8 
6 
8 
9 
4 
3 
16 
16 
3 
16 
4 
14 
6 
10 
3 
12 
18 
18 
20 
26 
12 

Men 
89 
93 
88 
87 
83 
87 
92 
92 
94 
92 
91 
96 
97 
84 
84 
97 
84 
96 
86 
94 
90 
97 
88 
82 
82 
80 
74 
88 

Source:  European  Commission,  Employment,  Social  affairs  and  Equal  opportunities  DG,  Database  on  women  and  men  in  decision-making.  Data  have  been 
collected in October 2008. The list of the largest publicly quoted companies is based for each country on current membership of blue-chip index. In countries for 
which the blue-chip index includes a small number of companies (for instance LU, SK), at least the 10 largest companies were covered.  

Indicators for the candidate countries in 2007 

Women 
26.1 

Turkey 
Men 
74.4 

Gap  Women 
56.4 
48.3 

Croatia 
Men 
70.4 

Gap  Women 

14 

50 

FYROM 
Men 
75.4 

Gap 
25.4 

23.8 

16.5 

6.1 

3.9 

19.7 

68 

43 

6.9 

8.5 

4.9 

44.2 

50 

64.4 

14.4 

26.5 

24.2 

48.4 

24.2 

0.8 

4.6 

9.4 

8.4 

-14.8 

11.3 

6.8 

8.3 

6.4 

-2.6 

-0.1 

-4.9 

12.4 

12.6 

0.2 

13.2 

12.2 

-1 

40 

54.2 

14.2 

96.1 

94.6 

-1.5 

9 

4 

91 

96 

- 

- 

22 

22 

78 

78 

- 

- 

32.1 

49.1 

17 

28.3 

47.8 

19.5 

35.7 

34.9 

-0.8 

54.9 

56.4 

1.5 

: 

: 

: 

31 

9 

: 

: 

: 

69 

91 

: 

: 

: 

- 

- 

Activity rate (15-64)  
Employment rate (15-
64)  
Employment rate of older 
workers (55-64) (1) 
Unemployment rate 25-
74 (2) 
Unemployment on 
population aged 15-24 
Share of part-time 
workers 
Share of employees 
with temporary 
contracts 
Educational attainment 
(upper secondary 
school, 20-24)  
Share of members of 
national parliaments (3)  
Share of members of 
senior ministers of 
national governments(3)  
Share among members 
of boards of top quoted 
companies(3) 

9 

91 

12 
Source: Eurostat, LFS 2007 except for FYROM for which the source is Labour force survey 2007 (2nd quarter) – Republic of Macedonia – State Statistical office 
(News release September 2008, n°2.1.8.29).  
The gender gap is always calculated as the value for men minus the value for women.  
(1) For FYROM, the employment rate is calculated among persons 50-64 (and not 55-64).  
(2) For FYROM, the unemployment rate is calculated among persons 15-64 (and not 25-74). 
(3) Source: European Commission, Employment, Social affairs and Equal opportunities DG, Database on Women and Men in Decision making. Data collected in 
October 2008.  

88 

91 

9 

- 

- 

- 

EN 

21 

   EN