More women active on the labour market

Women are increasingly active on the labour market; the number rose from slightly under 3 million in 2001 to nearly 3.2 million in 2005. Only women who are working in paid jobs for at least twelve hours a week or are actively seeking a job for at least twelve hours a week are counted. In the period 2001-2005, the amount of women aged between 15 and 65 who were active on the labour market, rose from 55.9 to 58.7 percent.

Gross labour participation rate by gender

Fewer men active on the labour market

Men, on the other hand, have become less active on the labour market. Since 2001, the gross labour participation rate of men fell by 2 percentage points to 76.5 percent in 2005. The decrease was mainly recorded in the age male age group 15-45. The participation rate among male over-45s rose marginally. More than 4.2 million men were active on the labour market in 2005. Although men outnumber women on the labour market, the gap is closing.

Far more single mothers

Single mothers accounted for more than one quarter of the robust increase of women on the labour market, recorded between 2001 and 2004. In that period, the number of single mothers active on the labour market rose by 39 thousand to nearly 200 thousand. The gross labour participation rate of this group went up from 55.6 percent in 2001 to 62.8 percent in 2004.

Gross labour participation rate among single mothers

More women in health care, education and public administration

Employment among women grew in the period 2001-2005, particularly in the sectors health care, education and public administration. In health care, the number of jobs held by women increased by an average 143 thousand over the first three quarters of 2005 compared to 2001. In the sectors education and public administration, the number of jobs held by women increased by 28 thousand and 21 thousand respectively.

Jobs held by women

Diana Janjetovic and Alan Sebo