The gender employment gap for parents in the EU is significantly influenced by education levels, with a stark contrast evident between highly educated women and those with lower educational attainment in 2024.
Gender employment: Impact of Education on Employment Rates
For women with lower education, the employment rates took a noticeable hit as the number of children in the household increased. Eurostat data indicates that the gender employment gap for this demographic swelled from 26.1 percentage points (pp) for families with one child to 35.8 pp for two children, ultimately reaching 42.1 pp for households with three or more children.
Medium Education Levels Reveal Widening Gap
Women with medium education levels experienced higher overall employment rates; however, the gender gap still widened as family size increased. In households with three or more children, this gap peaked at 33.0 pp, highlighting a persistent inequality. Employment rates in these families were recorded at 58.9 per cent for women compared to 91.9 per cent for men.
Challenges Even Among Highly Educated Women
Interestingly, even among those with higher education, women with children did not achieve the same employment levels as their male counterparts. In households with two children, women’s employment rates stood at 88.0 per cent, while men fared better at 96.7 per cent, resulting in an 8.7 pp gap. This disparity grew in families with three or more children, where the rates were 81.8 per cent for women versus 95.4 per cent for men, culminating in a 13.6 pp gap.
Children’s Presence Alters Employment Dynamics
The presence of children in a household distinctly impacted employment rates between genders. Eurostat reported that while women’s employment rates declined with an increasing number of children, men showed higher employment rates when children were present compared to those without children. This shift underscores the complex interplay between family responsibilities and career opportunities, particularly for women.
