The differences between females and males in the labour market do not only concern wage discrepancies but also the type of occupations held. Even though they account for 46% of employed persons, women were under-represented amongst managers, with only a third being female in 2013.
On the other hand, women were over-represented among clerical support workers as well as among service and sales workers, accounting for around two-thirds of employed persons in these sectors.
Europe cannot allow that the potential of 50 percent of its population is not exploited. Even though equal opportunities are becoming more of a reality, there is still so much we have to do. Women are still earning less than men and are still under-represented in management positions in business and politics. The worst thing of all is that one in every three women have experienced some form of physical and sexual violence. That is unacceptable, Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality Vera Jourova has said.