(21 October 2016) – A recent report, published by Eurofound, explores the main characteristics and consequences of gender gaps in labour market participation and finds that the total cost of a lower female employment rate was €370 billion in 2013, corresponding to 2.8% of EU GDP.
Women’s labour market participation in the European Union has increased over recent decades, passing 70% in 2014. In that year, women comprised almost 46% of the active EU labour market population.
Nevertheless, women’s employment and participation rates are still lower than those of men in almost all Member States.
This report also examines policies and measures aimed at fostering female labour market participation, which could be central to closing gender gaps.