February 2012

The unadjusted Gender Pay Gap (GPG) represents the difference between average gross hourly earnings of male paid employees and of female paid employees as a percentage of average gross hourly earnings of male paid employees. From reference year 2006 onwards, the new GPG data is based on the methodology of the Structure of Earnings Survey (Reg.: 530/1999) carried out with a four-yearly periodicity. The most recent available reference years are 2002 and 2006 and Eurostat computed the GPG for these years on this basis. For the intermediate years (2007 onwards) countries provide to Eurostat estimates benchmarked on the SES results.

Data are broken down by economic activity (NACE: Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community), form of economic and financial control (public/private) of the enterprise and age classes of employees.

The data disseminated in this table have been compiled using the economic activity classification NACE Rev. 2 from reference year 2008 onwards. The time series includes back casts for reference years 2002, 2006 and 2007 only for the NACE Rev. 2 aggregates B to N and/or B to S (excluding O). For periods up to reference year 2008, data were also compiled using the previous classification NACE Rev. 1.1 and are disseminated in a separate table.

The main differences between NACE Rev. 1.1 and NACE Rev. 2 are to be found in the more detailed breakdown of the services sectors, on the one hand, and the less detailed breakdown of the manufacturing sector sectors, on the other hand. For more information on NACE:

http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/nace_rev2/introduction

According to the new methodology of the unadjusted GPG indicator the coverage is defined as follows:

- target population: all employees, there are no restrictions for age and hours worked;

- economic activity according to NACE Rev. 2. Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community: only for the aggregate sections B to S (excluding O) and, if available, also for sections B to S and the aggregates B to N and B and S;

- size of enterprises: 10 employees or more.

From reference year 2006 onwards, the new unadjusted GPG is based on the methodology of the SES (Structure of Earnings Survey according to Regulation (CE) 530/1999). The SES is carried out with a four-yearly periodicity. The most recent available reference years for the SES are 2002 and 2006 and Eurostat computed the GPG for these years on this basis. For the intermediate years (2007 onwards) countries provide to Eurostat GPG estimates benchmarked on the SES results.

The GPG in unadjusted form represents the difference between average gross hourly earnings of male paid employees and of female paid employees as a percentage of average gross hourly earnings of male paid employees.

The GPG is calculated at Member States and EU-aggregates total level using the arithmetic mean for the NACE Rev. 2 aggregate B to S (excluding O) and, if available, also for sections B to S and the aggregates B to N and B to S.

The national and the EU-aggregated GPG values, either in total or breakdowns according to the various variables below, are calculated using as weights the grossing up factors for the employees (variable 4.2 for SES2002 (Reg. 1916/2000); variable 5.2 for SES2006 (Reg. 1738/2005)). EU-27 and other EU-aggregate estimates are employee-weighted averages of corresponding SES-results and SES comparable national data for the year between two structure of earnings surveys.

For each country, the GPG is calculated for each gender, aggregate and breakdown as follows:

Gross hourly earnings of (gender) paid employees = ∑ (variable 4.3. x variable 5.2) / ∑ variable 5.2

added over the MS or EU total or breakdown considered.

Where variable 4.3 = average gross hourly earnings in the reference month (Reg. (CE) 1738/2005).

The indicator has been defined as unadjusted (e.g. not adjusted according to individual characteristics that may explain part of the earnings difference) because it should give an overall picture of gender inequalities in terms of pay. The Gender Pay Gap is the consequence of various inequalities (structural differences) in the labour market such as different working pattern, differences in institutional mechanisms and systems of wage setting. Consequently, the pay gap is linked to a number of legal, social and economic factors which go far beyond the single issue of equal pay for equal work.

While the size of the unadjusted GPG certainly gives an indication of the situation women face in the labour market, it generally makes sense to take into account other labour market indicators as well to get a fuller picture of the possible reasons underlying the pay gap in a particular Member State

The statistical unit is the employee.

According to the new methodology the coverage is defined as follows:

• target population: all employees, there are no restrictions for age and hours worked;
• economic activity according to NACE Rev. 2.: only for the aggregate sections B_S (excluding O); sections B to S and aggregate B to S are optional;
• size of enterprises: 10 employees or more.

Gross hourly earnings shall include paid overtime and exclude non-regular payments. Also, part-time employees shall be included.

The data cover EU-Member States, European Union, Euro area, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.

The available reference years are 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 for most countries. The GPG is available annually from reference year 2006 onwards.

Not applicable.

Percentages.

The reference years are 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 for most countries. The GPG is available annually from reference year 2006 onwards.

EU-Member States and (if available and comparable) other European countries participating in the four-yearly Structure of Earnings Survey (Reg. (CE) 530/1999) on a gentlemen's agreement basis.

Not applicable.

Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.

Not applicable.

New data are disseminated in November/December each year on the Eurostat website.

Not applicable.

In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice Eurostat disseminates European statistics on Eurostat's website (see item 10 - 'Dissemination format') respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably. The detailed arrangements are governed by the Eurostat protocol on impartial access to Eurostat data for users.

Annual.

No news releases.

See: http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat

Please consult free data on-line or refer to contact details.

Not applicable.

Annual report on Equality between women and men (DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities) :

http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=422&langId=en&furtherPubs=yes

As from 1^st January 2011 anti-discrimination and gender equality policies and related activities are coordinated by Directorate General Justice (DG JUST). The former link http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=765&langId=en will be moved to the website of Justice, Fundamental rights and Citizenship.

See concept 3.4 above.

Not available.

GPG data are based on the methodology of the four-yearly Structure of Earnings Survey, and Member States compile/estimate GPG data according to the rules and guidelines established in the SES methodology.

After data submission to Eurostat several validations are performed on the data.

In the context of Eurostat's "Quality assurance framework" a Quality Peer Review of the Structure of Earnings Survey 2006 was carried out in 2009.

The main user of the GPG indicator database is the Employment Committee. The GPG database is one of the data sources used for monitoring of Guidelines 18 and 22 of the European Employment Strategy (EES) which promotes a life cycle approach to work (18) and aims at ensure employment-friendly labour cost developments and wage-setting mechanisms (22).

The unadjusted GPG belongs to the list of gender equality indicators that are part of the indicators to monitor policy progress in Employment and social policy, equality.

http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/employment_social_policy_equality/equality/gender_indicators

Users are satisfied.

Some currently existing data gaps are due to a late data delivery announced by some countries.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

11 months after the reference year.

Not applicable (gentlemen's agreement).

As based on a common definition (SES based methodology) the output is harmonized.

Comparability over time improved substantially since the application of the new methodology (see: item 3.1).

Not applicable.

Plausibility checks are carried out.

Not defined.

Whenever there is some information on new data or an improvement of provisional data available, these are revised.

Not applicable.

The results of the four-yearly Structure of Earnings Survey (SES) are used for the calculation of the (unadjusted) Gender Pay Gap figures. This survey is carried out according to the stipulations laid down in the Regulations (CE) 530/1999 and 1738/2005. The GPG figures for the years between the SES benchmark years are based on national comparable estimates.

Annual.

Countries provide data and metadata via EDAMIS.

A set of standardized validations are applied by Eurostat on the data submitted.

Compilation of aggregates:

EU-27 and other EU-aggregate estimates are number of employees-weighted averages corresponding to the GPG covered population.

EU-27 totals are computed only when data are available for all countries or when Cyprus, Luxembourg and Malta are the only countries with incomplete data. The same applies to Euro area totals.

If data for a country is missing for one year then EU totals may be completed using data from the previous year for that country. In that case the EU totals will be flagged as provisional.

Not applicable.

a) The Gender pay gap in unadjusted form in % - NACE Rev. 1.1 (Structure of Earnings Survey: 2002 and 2006 onwards):

It is based on the new methodology (see above Item 3 Statistical presentation), however data in these tables are classified according to the NACE Rev. 1.1 classification and the only available breakdown is the economic activity (NACE) at section level. Available data cover the reference years 2002, 2006 and 2007.

These series are frozen but are kept available at Eurostat's online database:

earn_gr_gpg - Gender pay gap in unadjusted form in % - NACE Rev.1.1 (Structure of Earnings Survey methodology).

b) The "old" GPG:

As regards the "old" GPG figures previously published by Eurostat, countries calculated results using different data sources (administrative file, Labour Force Survey, EU-SILC - European survey about income and living conditions - or specific national surveys) involving distinct definitions, different coverage, sample size problems, etc.. All these elements hampered the GPG indicator's data quality and its comparability between Member States (this is why it was agreed on switching to an EU-level comparable common data source: the SES).

GPG estimates of the past (old methodology) are frozen, but not deleted from Eurostat's online database in order to keep historical series (1994-2006).