In Sweden, men earn slightly more than women. From 2016 to 2021, women's average earnings in the country were 96 percent of that of their male counterparts, but dropped to 95 percent in 2022. This is despite the fact that a higher share of women than men have a higher educational level.
Unequal pay, a frequently observed problem
Even though women in Sweden earn less on average than men, the gender pay gap is smaller in Sweden than in several other European countries. However, in a survey about attitudes towards gender equality, equal pay for equal work was considered the second most important issue facing women and girls in Sweden today.
Gender difference in the distribution among occupations and sectors
The main reason for the lack of equal pay for men and women is that the latter group tends to work in occupations where average salaries are lower than in those dominated by men. For instance, the average salary in the human health sector in Sweden is 34,200 Swedish kronor, compared to 55,200 in financial institutions and insurance companies. The health care sector in the country has a high share of female employees.
Women's average earnings as a percentage of men's average earnings in Sweden from 2014 to 2022
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Statistics Sweden. (June 20, 2023). Women's average earnings as a percentage of men's average earnings in Sweden from 2014 to 2022 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved July 22, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/528596/sweden-women-s-average-earnings/
Statistics Sweden. "Women's average earnings as a percentage of men's average earnings in Sweden from 2014 to 2022." Chart. June 20, 2023. Statista. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/528596/sweden-women-s-average-earnings/
Statistics Sweden. (2023). Women's average earnings as a percentage of men's average earnings in Sweden from 2014 to 2022. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: July 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/528596/sweden-women-s-average-earnings/
Statistics Sweden. "Women's Average Earnings as a Percentage of Men's Average Earnings in Sweden from 2014 to 2022." Statista, Statista Inc., 20 Jun 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/528596/sweden-women-s-average-earnings/
Statistics Sweden, Women's average earnings as a percentage of men's average earnings in Sweden from 2014 to 2022 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/528596/sweden-women-s-average-earnings/ (last visited July 22, 2024)
Women's average earnings as a percentage of men's average earnings in Sweden from 2014 to 2022 [Graph], Statistics Sweden, June 20, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/528596/sweden-women-s-average-earnings/