One of the most significant, yet often overlooked, factors behind the gender wage gap lies in employment patterns. Across Europe, men and women do not participate in the labour market in the same way, and these differences have a direct impact on earnings.

Recent data highlights just how wide these disparities can be. In 2021, Romania recorded the highest gender employment gap at 19.7%, while Lithuania reported the lowest at just 0.9%. Malta, however, stood at 16.1%, a notably high figure that raises important questions about why so many women are absent from full-time employment.

A common assumption is that women, particularly mothers, leave the workforce to care for their children. While this is certainly part of the story, it is not the full picture. Research conducted by Malta's National Statistics Office in 2020 found that younger, highly educated women, particularly those under 34 with tertiary qualifications, are less likely to exit employment after having children. Instead, many shift their working patterns rather than leave work altogether.

This is where part-time employment becomes crucial. Rather than fully withdrawing from the labour market, many mothers reduce their working hours to balance childcare and professional responsibilities. While this may offer flexibility, it often comes at a cost: lower wages, fewer promotion opportunities, and reduced long-term financial security.

The impact of children on women's employment

The presence, and number, of children plays a decisive role in shaping employment patterns. Across the European Union, the gender employment gap widens significantly with each additional child.

In 2021, the average gender employment gap in the EU stood at around 10%. However, this figure masks a stark reality. Among parents with one child, the gap rises to 12%. For those with two children, it increases to 17%, and for families with three or more children, it reaches as high as 27%.

These figures point to a clear trend: the more children a woman has, the more likely she is to reduce her participation in the workforce. This is often not a matter of choice alone. The high cost of childcare, limited availability of services, and cultural expectations that mothers should be primary caregivers all play a role. In many cases, women either move into part-time roles or leave employment entirely, while men's employment patterns remain largely unchanged.

Part-time work and traditional roles

Differences in part-time employment across countries further illustrate how cultural norms shape labour market outcomes. In 2020, the Netherlands recorded the highest rate of gender disparity in part-time work, with 41.3% of total employment reflecting this gap. This has often been linked to the persistence of a traditional family model, where men are expected to be full-time breadwinners while women take on part-time roles to prioritise family life.

At the other end of the spectrum lies Bulgaria, with a remarkably low gender gap in part-time employment of just 0.7%. Here, economic pressures and policy frameworks encourage both men and women to remain in full-time work. Comparative studies suggest that Bulgarian policies place greater emphasis on shared parental responsibilities, including more flexible working arrangements for fathers and shorter maternity leave for mothers.

Malta falls somewhere in between, but still reflects a notable imbalance. In 2021, the gender gap in part-time employment stood at 13.5%, suggesting that women are significantly more likely than men to work reduced hours. While some Maltese men also take on part-time work, sometimes alongside full-time jobs, many women rely on part-time employment as their main source of income. This pattern may also reflect deeply ingrained gender norms, where caregiving responsibilities continue to fall disproportionately on women.

Hidden dynamics: unemployment and informal work

Interestingly, the gender unemployment gap across the EU appears relatively small, standing at just 0.7% in 2021. In Malta, the difference is even narrower at 0.5%, with women slightly more likely to be unemployed.

However, these figures can be misleading. A low unemployment gap does not necessarily indicate equality. In some cases, it reflects the fact that fewer women are actively seeking work in the first place. Others may be registered under part-time or specific employment schemes that limit their access to benefits, particularly if they are not considered the primary earners in their households.

There is also evidence to suggest that informal or "shadow" employment may play a role. Malta, for instance, has a relatively high level of economic activity outside the formal system, accounting for over 23% of GDP in 2022. This raises the possibility that some women may be working in unregulated or undeclared roles, which remain invisible in official statistics.

The pandemic effect and beyond

It is important to consider that much of this data was collected during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period that had a profound impact on employment patterns worldwide. Women, particularly those working in service sectors, were disproportionately affected by job losses and increased caregiving responsibilities.

Before the pandemic, Malta already had one of the lowest female labour market participation rates in the EU. Since then, government measures such as free childcare have helped to encourage more women to enter or remain in the workforce. Yet, despite these efforts, the gender employment gap remains relatively high.

Paradoxically, high levels of female inactivity can sometimes make the gender wage gap appear smaller than it actually is. In Malta, the gender inactivity gap reached 17.5% in 2021 and remained high at 14.4% in 2023. This suggests that a significant number of women are still outside the labour market altogether, effectively excluded from wage comparisons.

Looking ahead

Employment patterns clearly play a central role in shaping the gender wage gap. From part-time work to career interruptions and labour market inactivity, the ways in which women engage with paid work continue to differ significantly from men. Understanding these patterns is crucial, not only for addressing income inequality today, but also for shaping future economic outcomes.

Vania Agius Tabone is a Labour Party candidate