Women’s participation in labour market remains unequal
Published: 24 June 2008
Each year, the Institute for Social and Trade Union Research (ISTUR) of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB [1]) carries out a survey on the situation of women in the labour market. The survey for 2007 reveals that, while the EU gender equality framework [2] has been fully implemented in Bulgaria, the labour market situation of women is still characterised by prejudices and inequality.[1] http://www.knsb-bg.org/[2] http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/gender_equality/framework/strategy_en.html
A survey by the Institute for Social and Trade Union Research on women in the labour market in 2007 reveals continuing gender gaps in terms of employment and pay, as well as professional and occupational segregation. The study finds that over 60% of persons unemployed are women, most of whom are long-term unemployed. As ‘shared parenthood’ is uncommon in Bulgaria, an asymmetry emerges regarding work–life balance which affects transitions in the labour market.
Each year, the Institute for Social and Trade Union Research (ISTUR) of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) carries out a survey on the situation of women in the labour market. The survey for 2007 reveals that, while the EU gender equality framework has been fully implemented in Bulgaria, the labour market situation of women is still characterised by prejudices and inequality.
The survey is based on official labour force survey (LFS) data from the National Statistical Institute (Национален Статистически Институт, NSI) and data from the National Social Security Institute (Националния осигурителен институт, NSSI), as well as secondary analysis drawn from previous gender equality surveys.
Main results
Employment gap increasing
Women’s employment has been one of the main factors leading to continuous employment growth in Bulgaria in recent years. In 2007, the employment rate reached 44% for women aged 15 years and over (Figure 1), while the rate for women aged 15–64 years amounted to 57.6%, representing a significant increase compared with 2004. These figures bring women’s labour market participation in Bulgaria closer to the 60% target set out in the Lisbon Strategy.
Nevertheless, the employment rates of women aged 15–24 years (21.8%) and 55–64 years (34.5%) are still comparatively lower than those of men (27.1% and 51.8% for each age group, respectively). Moreover, women’s employment rates in each of these age groups are still well below the Lisbon Strategy targets.
Employment rates among population aged 15 years and over, by sex, 2000–2007 (%)
Source: NSI, LFS
Employment rates, by sex, 2000–2007 (%)
Despite a significant improvement in women’s labour market participation rate, the employment gap between men and women continues to show a steady increase since 2002, amounting to 10.4% in 2007 for workers aged 15 years and over.
| Year | 2000 | 2002 | 2004 | 2006 | 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gender employment gap | 11.3 | 6.9 | 8.9 | 9.8 | 10.4 |
Source: NSI, LFS
Unemployment
In the period 2000–2007, a sharp decrease (9.5%) in unemployment was observed, with the decline higher for men (10%) than women (8.5%). However, despite a relatively low female unemployment rate of 7.3% in 2007, women’s share of total registered unemployment in the Employment offices http://www.az.government.bg/internal.asp?CatID=25&BM=0
continues to increase, reaching 60.9% in 2007. Overall women, particularly younger women, represent 60.6% of those who are long-term unemployed registered in Employment offices.
Vertical and horizontal segregation
The survey found that women are less likely to leave the world of dependent employment, with more than 90% of them currently on employment contracts. Women represent 65% of unpaid family workers but only 35% of self-employed workers and 37.5% of employers. The proportion of women working in the informal economy is significant – estimated at 35%.
According to the survey, the levels of professional and occupational segregation in Bulgaria do not differ significantly from most other EU countries. In 2007, the proportion of women in managerial positions in Bulgaria was 31.2%. Women also comprised 26.1% of professional staff. The proportion of women working as auxiliary personnel amounted to 75.1%, while women represented 61.3% of workers in services and 66% of analytical specialists.
Sectoral analysis found that economic activities with prevailing female participation are: textiles and clothing (91% of the workforce are women), leather and fur products (79%), education (79.6%), healthcare and social work (77.3%), financial intermediation (70%), and hotels and restaurants (63.4%).
Gender pay gap
The gender pay gap has narrowed from 24.5% in 2000 to 15.8% in 2007, thus moving closer to the EU27 average of 15% (Figure 2). Nevertheless, it is of concern that, in economic sectors with a high proportion of female workers, the gender pay gap is still persistently wide. Thus, in addition to the cases of male-dominated industries such as manufacturing, where the wage gap reaches 30%, and mining and quarrying (23%), wide pay gaps are also found in education (20%), healthcare (30%) and financial intermediation (25%).
Gender pay gap, 2000–2007 (%)
Source: NSI and author’s calculations
Gender pay gap, 2000–2007 (%)
Asymmetry in work–life balance
Ensuring a positive balance between work and family life is not a topic high on the Bulgarian policy agenda. The legislative measures undertaken in this area are not particularly complex, nor effective. Due to traditional stereotypes, women are still predominantly regarded as the primary carers of children and other family members. It is therefore difficult for women to develop a career outside of the home. As a result, women are often forced to choose between having children and pursuing a career, due to the lack of good quality social services, flexible employment schemes and the low level of ‘shared parenthood’ in Bulgaria. Overall, the proportion of men choosing to take parental leave or work part time to care for a child is low at 7.4%, compared with 32% of women who are willing to do so_._
Inequality in pension rights
The labour market situation of women, as outlined above, also has negative consequences in the case of retirement (BG0801019I). The income replacement rate increases faster and is higher for men than for women, with the gap reaching 18.7 percentage points in 2007 (Figure 3). Consequences of this gap include a lower quality of life for women after retirement and a higher risk of falling into the poverty trap.
Income replacement rate, by sex, 2000–2007 (%)
Note: Income replacement rate = the value of the average pension of one pensioner as a proportion of the average insurable income for the country.
Source: NSSI
Income replacement rate, by sex, 2000–2007 (%)
Commentary
Although significant legislative progress has been made on gender equality, implementing the EU gender equality framework remains a challenge for Bulgaria, as it requires the engagement and shared commitment of the government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Nadezhda Daskalova, Institute for Social and Trade Union Research (ISTUR)
Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.
Eurofound (2008), Women’s participation in labour market remains unequal, article.
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