Gender disparities in the labor market in the Baltic Sea region

Women's labor force participation rate considerably increased in the 20th century. Although they have become a significant workforce, their situation in the labor market differs from that of men. We can specify two main fields where these differences are especially visible: structure of employment and wages. Differences in structure of employment we can observe through such phenomena as:

• Women are more likely than men to work in the public sector (e.g. Barón and Cobb-Clark 2008, Mayer 2014).
• Women are more likely to undertake part-time jobs (e.g. Gash et al. 2010, Bardasi and Gornick 2000, Elias 1990).
• Women are more likely to undertake lower paid jobs (e.g. Casale 2004).
• Women are more likely to work in certain positions (e.g. officials, office workers, service workers) and in specific economic sectors (education, health and social services) [Banerjee 2014]
• In the labour market there exists a phenomenon called the "glass ceiling". This refers to the situation when women are blocked from accessing high-level positions and corporate boards (e.g. Morgan 1998, Forster 1999, Kee 2006, Arulampalam et al. 2007).

Statistical evidence demostrates that women earn less than men. Eurostat estimated that in 2013 in the EU women earned on average 16.6%. The level of the gender wage gap effect, inter alia, differences between men and women in the structure of employment. It is necessary to mentioned that gender inequalities vary among e.g. EU countries, economic sectors, and age group.

Authorities in the European Union have been carried out a number of activities to equalize opportunities for women in the labor market, e.g. formulation of Strategy for equality between women and men 2010-2015 among others. In our research, particular attention is paid to the Baltic states because they are the macroregion, for which a separate strategy was constructed (The European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region) and financial support programs (e.g. Interreg Baltic Sea Region).

The main aim of the presentation is to examine and discuss changes in gender disparities in the labor market in Baltic Sea region. The analysis focuses on female participation in the labor market and gender wage gap. Analyses are based on the data collected within the framework of Eurostat's Structure of Earnings Surveys (SES) and Labour Force Surveys (LFS). There are applied descriptive statistical tools, statistical tests and multivariate statistical analysis.