Female Workers in Europe's Health Sector Face Wage Inequality

According to a new report published by the World Health Organization, although women make up the vast majority of workers in Europe's health and care sector, female workers earn an average of 19 percent less per hour compared to their male colleagues.

Demographic Structure in the Health Sector

The health and care sector holds the distinction of being the fourth largest employment area in the WHO European Region. This field also stands out as the sector where women are employed the most.

While women account for 77 percent of the workers in the sector, this rate remains at 45 percent in the overall total of all other sectors.

Earnings Distribution in Higher Tiers

Despite women being in the majority across the sector, the share of women among top earners remains at only 55 percent.

Natasha Azzopardi Muscat, director of the WHO Division of Country Health Policies and Systems, stated that women sustain health systems but earn less.

Wage Gap According to Income Levels

The gender-based wage gap becomes much more pronounced in hourly wages, particularly at high income levels.

While the difference among the lowest-earning workers is at the level of 2 percent, this rate rises above 22 percent in the upper income brackets.

Structural Inequality and Unexplained Differences

When factors such as age, education, public-private sector, and working arrangements are taken into account, the hourly wage gap drops to 6 percent.

The remaining part cannot be explained by any of the measured factors, and it is stated that the issue is entirely based on structural factors related to the valuation of women's labor.