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This monograph discusses the position of women in the labour markets of Finland, Norway and Sweden - societies which are known for progressive gender policies. Part 1 describes the social model shared by these Nordic countries, one based on employment for all citizens, coupled with an extensive social service system. Part 2 considers the labour market position of women, how it has changed over the last twenty years and how it compares with other industrialised countries. The paper also considers why, despite almost equal numbers of men and women in the labour force, occupations remain highly sex-segregated. Show less

The importance of occupational sex segregation as a form of discrimination is recognised in ILO Convention on Discrimination (Employment and Occupation), 1958 (No. 111). It is one of the most insidious aspects of gender inequality in the labour market, since it is generally accompanied by lower pay and worse working conditions in female occupations. It is also one of the most enduring aspects of labour markets around the world. The InFocus Programme on Promoting the Declaration is responsible for the reporting processes and technical cooperation activities associated with the Declaration follow-up, including awareness-raising, advocacy and knowledge functions, of which this working paper is an example.

First, the paper discusses the types, causes and impact of occupational segregation by sex. It then looks at current levels of both horizontal and vertical segregation around the world and at the changes that occurred in the 1990s (in terms of female participation in the labour force, index of dissimilarity, gender-dominated occupations, the new and emerging occupation of computer programmer, and largest female and male dominated occupations). The analysis of trends in occupational segregation is primarily based on a sample of fifteen countries from the ILO SEGREGAT database (see Annex). Finally, the paper turns to policies to reduce occupational segregation (covering both measures before entering the labour market and while at work), using as an illustrative example a Nordic project to combat occupational sex segregation.

Edited excerpt from publisher's website. Show less