FLASH NEWS
In the Balkans, women are paid less than men
2026-03-08 11:31:12 / EKONOMI&SOCIALE
In the Western Balkan countries, women continue to be significantly less present in the labor market than men and, even when they are working, they are often paid less.
Data published by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) on the occasion of International Women's Day show that only about 51% of women in the region are employed, while for men this figure reaches 70%. The difference of almost 20 percentage points is almost twice as large as the average in the European Union.
According to the RCC analysis, women's participation in the labor market in the region remains low, also due to structural obstacles. The female activity rate is around 55%, significantly lower than the EU average of 70%. Although there have been improvements in recent years, women continue to face difficulties in entering the labor market, maintaining their jobs and advancing in their careers.
The problems are even more pronounced for young women. In the countries of the region, only 18% of young women are employed, while 28% are unemployed, a rate almost twice the EU average. Many of them work in low-wage sectors, in informal or part-time jobs, while they remain underrepresented in technological fields and in leadership positions.
Even when employed, women are paid less. The gender wage gap in the region is estimated at between 9 and 12%, although high levels of informal employment and a lack of transparency in wages often make this difference more difficult to measure. The consequences are also seen in pensions: according to a joint analysis by UNDP and RCC, women's pensions are around 40% lower than those of men.
The heavy burden of unpaid family work remains a significant factor. Women continue to bear the bulk of the care for children and dependent family members, while the lack of affordable childcare services limits their ability to work full-time.
The paradox is that women often outperform men in education. Around 40% of women in the region complete university studies, surpassing men. However, participation in lifelong learning programs remains very low, at only 5%, compared to almost 12% in the EU, which limits opportunities for retraining and professional advancement.
The RCC emphasizes that closing the gender gap requires not only laws, but also practical measures, such as more childcare services, active employment policies and retraining programs. According to the organization, increasing women's participation in the economy is not only a matter of equality, but also an important factor for economic growth and stability in the region.
Happening now...
ideas
top
TRENDING 
services
- POLICE129
- STREET POLICE126
- AMBULANCE112
- FIREFIGHTER128