Women’s employment in Europe - Towards gender equality in 2612?

Abstract

In Europe, there are huge inter-country disparities in female employment. The European Union repeatedly stresses the importance of developing women's employment fixing specific targets, particularly in light of combating poverty and balancing public finances. How can these targets be achieved when growth is weak and generally not conducive to employment and when few policies address gender inequalities? In all countries, despite the dramatic growth in women’s level of education and existing equality legislation, gender segregation and pay gaps persist. Also, new forms of discrimination have emerged slowing down progress towards gender equality in employment by creating new ghettos to which women’s labor supply is channeled.