Fields of education, gender and the labour market

Fields of education, gender and the labour market



The choice of field of education is rooted in the educational and personal experiences people have prior to reaching tertiary education. The acute gender segregation that is observed in some fields of education is likely to pave the way for grave imbalances in the labour market performance of men and women. Education fields with a larger share of women are typically associated with lower employment rates and lower earnings. However, even within the same field of education, employment rates and earnings are generally higher for men than for women. Inclusive labour markets and societies can only be achieved through long-term comprehensive and concerted actions.