Commissioner to examine gender segregation on labour market

In February 2003, the Swedish government appointed a commissioner to examine why there is still strong gender segregation in the labour market and identify the obstacles to integration. The commissioner is due to report by March 2004.

On 6 February 2003, Åsa Löfström, associate professor at the Department of Economics of Umeå University, was appointed as a commissioner by the government to examine the reasons why gender segregation - ie women and men being largely confined to particular jobs and sectors - is still so strong on the Swedish labour market. Ms Löfström will also investigate where the obstacles to increased integration may be found.

The issue of ending gender segregation in the labour market and thus contributing to greater equality of opportunity between women and men has long been a priority in Swedish labour market policy, the government stated in a press release. Nevertheless, there is still much to do before the labour market may be regarded as equal for men and for women. 'The whole workforce, without any further uneven representation, must be present on the market', stated the working life minister, Hans Karlsson, adding that gender segregation prevents mobility on the labour market, which means an inefficient use of the total workforce.

The commissioner's first task will be to increase knowledge about what factors are maintaining gender segregation on the labour market and where the obstacles may be found. As gender segregation is not solely a Swedish phenomenon but a global problem, the research will also adapt an international perspective. The commissioner will present her findings to the government no later than 15 March 2004.

In March 2002, the Swedish government appointed a commissioner to examine women's representation at management and board levels in private sector companies (SE0204101N). This report was due in March 2003 but at the time of writing has not appeared. The issue has, however, recently been raised in public debate, with members of the government announcing that they would like to see a quota of female board representatives and private sector business organisations opposing such a move.