united nations economic commission for europe statistical division gender pay gap data availability...

United Nations Economic Commission for EuropeStatistical Division

Gender Pay Gap Data availability and measurement issues

Work Session on Gender StatisticsGeneva, 6-8 October 2008

Elisa Benes- UNECE Statistical Division Slide 2

Gender Pay Gap

No internationally agreed definition Various measurement approaches Various sources of data Various interpretations Wide variability in estimates

7 October 2008

Limited comparability across countries

Unclear interpretation

A fresh look

Elisa Benes- UNECE Statistical Division Slide 47 October 2008

Policy Concerns

1. Equal pay for work of equal value

3. Take-home pay

2. Position in job market


Policy relevance:1. Equal pay for work of equal value•Basic human right

•Fundamental workers’ right

•Gender equality plan in many countries

Indicator to monitor potential sex-based discrimination in pay


Policy relevance: 2. Overall position in job market•Different employment patterns of women and men

•Women concentrate in low-paying occupations, industries; informal jobs; and contributing family workers

•Overall lower income for women

Indicator of overall position of women and men in job market


Policy relevance: 3. Take-home pay•Economic welfare and empowerment

•Bargaining power in house and society

•Economic independence and security

Indicator of gender equality in access to economic resources


Measurement Considerations

Policy focus • Suggests different measurement approaches

Worker coverage Concept of income Type of income measure

Data availability • Defines approaches possible

Data source


Measurement considerations

CoverageAll employment (paid- and self-employment)All components of income from employment

Jobs “Equal value” jobs Main job All jobs

Income measure Gross hourly Net monthly or

annual

1 2 3


Data availability

Sources of Income from Employment Data

Household surveys

Establishment surveys

Administrative records

•Differ in employment, job and income coverage

•Affect computation of estimates of GPG

•Affect interpretation of estimates of GPG

•Limit comparability and clarity of GPG measures


UNECE Inquiry –Nov 2007

•Assess availability and comparability of data•Understand effects on GPG of sources/measures

•18 contacted•12 replied

Total EmploymentPaid Employment Self-employment

Earnings … … …-Annual-Monthly-Hourly

-Gross-Net

Income data requested

Goals

Countries

…per source+ metadata


Availability

•Wide variability in sources•Most common: Earnings


Comparability

•Different concepts, definitions and measures


Data Source Effect

•Limited comparability of sources due to differences in coverage and concepts


Employment Coverage Effect

•Limited change when self-employment is included•But cases have small share of self-employment


Income Measure Effect

•Large impact on estimates of GPG•Due to gender differences in working-time


UNECE Inquiry Implications -Not representative but telling

•Source, concepts, measures affect GPG estimates and interpretation

•Different policy needs require different measurement approaches

•Wide variability of data at national level limits comparability


What can be done? More thorough assessment needed Further conceptual work to clearly define policy-

relevant indicators• Gender Gap in pay for work of equal value• Gender Gap in position in job market• Gender Gap in take-home pay

Improve consistency in concepts, definitions, measures across national data sources

Improve availability of comparable national income from employment data

united nations economic commission for europe statistical division gender pay gap data availability...

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