Gender Pay Gap in Estonia Worsens in 2024
Widening Gender Pay Inequality in Estonia, Most Prominent in the Finance Sector
Here's the scoop on the latest wage gap figures in Estonia: women earned 13.2% less per hour than men in 2024, a slight increase from the previous year.
The biggest gap was seen in the financial and insurance sector, where ladies couldn't quite match their male counterparts, earning on average a whopping 25.5% less. The gap exceeded 20% in five sectors: financial and insurance activities, information and communication, wholesale and retail trade, human health and social work, and manufacturing.
On the positive side, women still out-earned men in transportation and storage, but the gap widened significantly in "other service activities," swinging from a surprising -18.4% in 2023 (meaning ladies took home more dough) to a 14.8% gap this year, which ain't great news for the ladies.
Looking at sectors with a smaller gender pay gap, we've got water supply and waste management (3.6%), agriculture and fishing (5.9%), real estate activities (6%), and public administration and defence (6.5%).
The highest wages overall were recorded in the information and communication sector, with men making €21.6 hourly and ladies €16.3. On the flip side, in accommodation and food service activities, both genders earned some of the lowest wages - €8.4 and €7.1, respectively.
Sigrid Saagpakk, an analyst at Statistics Estonia, noted that the gender pay gap in Estonia has shrunk by 9.7 percentage points since 2011.
Eva Liina Kliiman, an advisor at the Estonian economic affairs ministry, pointed out that the gender pay gap is a reflection of overall gender equality in society, with negative consequences for both the present and future wellbeing, affecting various benefits, pensions, and social justice.
To tackle this issue, Kliiman suggests addressing gender stereotypes, promoting pay transparency, and evaluating society's valuation and rewards for care work, such as in education, nursing, and healthcare.
Other strategies include implementing career development and leadership opportunities, addressing sectoral segregation, supporting work-life balance, and strengthening education and training programs.
[5] Women in Estonia Facing Wide Gender Pay Gap Despite Progress, Says Study | [2] EU Pay Transparency Directive targets Estonia | [3] Estonian Education and Cultural Administration
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- Despite the decline in the gender pay gap in Estonia over the years, the financial and insurance sector has remained a challenge for women, with a significant disparity of 25.5% less pay compared to men.
- As the gender pay gap persists in Estonia, government advisors like Eva Liina Kliiman advocate for strategies such as addressing gender stereotypes, promoting pay transparency, and strengthening education and training programs to ensure progress in business culture and financial equity.
