The MAPFRE Foundation and ClosinGap have presented the ‘IV Senior Talent Map’, which measures the presence of senior women in the labor market. The conclusions drawn by the study are worrying, since it is concluded that the gender gap in the labor market for the most veterans is deeply serious. The report, for its part, proposes good practices to extend their working life, but it is not always possible for reasons that have to do with the female presence in care.
Despite recent advances, women have worse rates of entrepreneurshipself-employment, activity, employment and higher levels of unemployment. They also have worse salaries, with a wage gap of up to 27% in the over 65 age group. Likewise, they have a minimal presence in the positions of management and senior managementand a social perception of invisibility with respect to their work that, in many cases, is linked to care and volunteering.
The aging process, according to the study, has a woman’s name above all. In the recent evolution (2008-2022), women grew more than menand in the entire senior population they represent 55%, a higher percentage than that of men. There is growth in the active and employed population especially pronounced regarding women.
Since 2008, working women over 55 have gone from representing the 35% of the total number of senior employees 45% in 2023, that is, 10 percentage points more in just 15 years. In this way, of the 4.4 million employed seniors, 1.9 million are women. However, although the distances are reduced, there is still more active men and employed than women, and the female activity and employment rates are lower than the male rates.
Regarding the wage gap between men and women, this figure has been reduced in all age groups in recent years. However, it is still higher among senior workers. Specifically of the 14.4% between 55 and 64 years old, and 27% from 65 years old. This situation contrasts with that of young people, where the gender pay gap has practically been eliminated.
As for self-employment, it is currently more widespread among men than among women. In the group of people over 55 years of age, there are only 365,000 self-employed womencompared to 673,000 men. The gap grows as the years of working life progress. Of the more than one million seniors who are self-employed, only 38% represents women.
Finally, focusing on the companies that try to break down these barriers, the report includes a selection of 40 that are leaders in carrying out initiatives to attract and retain senior female talent. Among them stands out Abbottwhich has a mentoring and training program aimed at people over 55 years of age; Lillywhich has set concrete targets to increase the number of older women in management positions; and Nestlewhich has an action plan to promote gender equality.
#gaps #separate #men #women #senior #labor #market
