Trends of female employment in European Union

Gender equality is a fundamental right, a shared value in the European Union and a necessary condition for the achievement of the EU's objectives of growth, employment and social cohesion. All over Europe, increasing numbers of women are entering paid work. Yet, women's growing labour market participation has not led fundamental changes in the gender division of labour or to changes in time use and responsibilities between women and men. The main goal of this paper is to highlight the multilevel social and economic trends of female participation in labour market. Through a document analysis of official domestic and EU policy files (such as the National Action Plans and National Reform Programmes), expert interviews, and secondary data analysis of reports and academic literature we conclude that domestic social policy change is to a certain degree, influenced by the supranational factors. However, in the employment and social policy areas relevant to gender equality and womens's participation in the labour market, it is the domestic social, economic, and political factors that take the front stage.