Women dominate the healthcare workforce in Europe, making up 77% of employees, yet they earn 19% less per hour than their male counterparts, according to a new WHO report. This disparity is particularly pronounced at higher wage levels, where the gap can exceed 22%. The report highlights that while women are crucial to the sector, they are underrepresented in top-paying roles, holding just 55% of these positions.
The implications of this pay gap extend beyond immediate earnings. Women in healthcare face lower lifetime earnings and pension entitlements, increasing their risk of poverty in later life. This systemic undervaluation of care work not only affects individual financial security but also undermines the sustainability of the healthcare workforce, which relies heavily on female employees.
Adjusting for factors like age and education reduces the pay gap to 6%, indicating that much of the disparity cannot be explained by traditional metrics. The WHO suggests that deeper structural issues, such as discrimination in pay-setting practices and occupational segregation, are at play. The more feminised a role, the less it tends to pay, reflecting a broader societal undervaluation of women’s work.
Addressing this inequality is crucial for both equity and economic stability. The WHO calls for targeted actions, including salary transparency and increased female representation in decision-making roles, to close the gender pay gap in healthcare. Such measures could lead to a more equitable and sustainable workforce, benefiting both employees and the healthcare system as a whole.
Source: Euronews
