Women are paid less than men, even though they study more, but they are being overtaken by the government

2024-03-08 07:32:00, Ekonomi CNA

Women are paid less than men, even though they study more, but they are being

It's March 8, women's day. The balance over the years shows an increase in their role in the economy and especially in politics. Today, Albania is among the countries that has the highest percentage of women in the governing cabinet, at the same levels as Finland.

However, women, even though they are more educated, continue to be paid less than men, in most professions. Even at home, the power is held by the men who have the bank accounts in their name, but they also dare more, taking loans.

Men are paid more than women

Men are paid more than women in most occupations. INSTAT data even show that the average salary of men recorded a faster increase in 2022, compared to that of women.

On average, an employee in the country was paid 61,898 gross per month in 2022, a nominal increase of 8.2%.

For men, the average salary was 63,773, an increase of 9.2%.

For women, the average salary reached 59,813, or 7.3% more than a year ago.

The growth of men's wages at higher rates compared to women's led to a further widening of the gender pay gap between the two sexes. Women were paid 6.2% less than men in 2022, down from the 4.2% gap that had fallen in 2021.

Out of 36 groups of professions, reported by INSTAT, women are paid more in only 5 of them.

The field where women "shine" is driving. According to INSTAT, women in the profession group "Administrative and commercial managers" had an average gross monthly salary of 189,393 in 2022. This level is not only the highest salary of all the professions in the country, but it is also 11.1% more higher than that of men. Compared to a year ago, the salary for this profession group increased by about 10%, both for men and women.

Employees in electro-technology professions are the other group, where women receive more than men. The salary of women in this group is 64,365 ALL, or 10.7% more than men.

In the other two occupations, "Service and support workers" and "Personal services and protection workers", women receive respectively 1.3% and 1.1% more than men.

The administration is the institution that does not "discriminate" against women in salaries, while "Legislators, senior officials of the state administration and executive directors" receive the same, about 92 thousand lek per month.

While in education, the preference is for men, who are paid almost 80 thousand lek per month, or 12% more than women in the same profession.

Even in health there is a difference. The profession group "Health Specialists" pays men 85.8 thousand ALL per month, or 13.8% more than women. For "Specialized health assistants", the monthly salary of men is 65.8 thousand ALL, or about 8% more than that of women in the same profession.

The highest female-male gap is in manufacturing, where the record is held by the industry that pays men 24.6% more than women. (see the salary chart by sector and gender at the end)

…But women are more educated

Although they are paid less than men, women have a higher level of education. According to INSTAT, girls are more likely to attend university than boys. In total, 21.3% of women over 25 have completed higher education, compared to 18.2% of men.

Women are paid less than men, even though they study more, but they are being

Men dominate in the parliament, women have taken "power" in the government

In 1920, there were no women in the Albanian Parliament. The era of socialism can be known for dictatorship, but at least in the period 1970-1990, in the Assembly, women constituted 30% of the Assembly. With the advent of democracy, the legislative power returned to men, who dominated with almost 94% of the participation in this high institution in 2011. In the last decade, the participation of women in the Assembly has increased again, reaching in 2021-2022 the historical record of 36% participation, although still in the minority in relation to men.

But if there is one place where they dominate, it is in governance. In the current government, out of 16 ministries, 10 are headed by female ministers. At the end of 2023, Albania ranked first in the world for the participation of women in the government cabinet, with 67% of the total, followed by Finland, with 64% and Spain with 64%, according to the women's empowerment index, published by CFR's program on women and foreign policy. Currently, this share has decreased to 62.5% after the recent changes in the government, which removed a minister and added a minister.

Unlike the government, the Administration is dominated by men in leadership. According to INSTAT, the percentage of women in managerial positions in 2022 was 35%, down from 35.5% the previous year.

Women are paid less than men, even though they study more, but they are being

Index of women's empowerment, equality in politics

Women live longer than men, the 35-39 age group has more men than women

Due to genetics itself, or a more careful lifestyle, women live longer than men. According to INSTAT, life expectancy at birth is 80.9 years for women and 77.3 years for men.

Women marry on average at 27.7 years old, while men at 31.2 years old.

In the country, according to INSTAT, there are 2.77 million inhabitants. Of these, 1.4 million or 50.4% are women, while 1.37 million are men.

In Albania, more boys than girls are born. According to INSTAT, in the age group 1-4 years, girls are 48.5%. For the 20-24 age group, the population is divided into two equal parts. The age group that has more men than women is 35-39 years old.

Over 40 there are more women than men, due to their higher emigration after the 90s.

At ages over 70, women predominate due to their higher life expectancy.

Women are paid less than men, even though they study more, but they are being

Money keeps men

In household accounts, women may be more economical, but when it comes to banks, it is men who dominate. 565 of the deposit accounts in the family sector are owned by men.

Men also take the risk. 57% of the bank accounts are from men./ Monitor.al

Women are paid less than men, even though they study more, but they are being