While men make up the majority of employed individuals in the European Union (EU) across all age groups, women are well-represented in a diverse range of occupations, according to Eurostat data from the third quarter of 2023.
The International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) categorizes different job types. While some sectors skew heavily male, such as craft and related trades workers and plant and machine operators and assemblers, women hold the majority in others.
Over half of clerical support workers (65.8%), service and sales workers (63.5%), and professionals (54.3%) such as scientists and teachers are women. Notably, women and men are equally represented among technicians and associate professionals (50.0%).
Looking at even more specific job categories within the ISCO framework, women dominate childcare and teachers' aides (92.6%), secretaries (89.3%), primary school and early childhood teachers (88.2%), and nursing and midwifery professions (87.5%). These roles play a crucial part in caring for and educating future generations.
While women are still a minority in some traditionally male-dominated fields like building trades (1.4%), machinery mechanics (2.9%), and heavy truck driving (3.8%), the data shows a positive trend towards greater gender balance across the EU workforce. This includes significant female representation in various sectors like education, healthcare, and administrative support, highlighting their valuable contributions to the EU economy and society.
