Presentation Gender Equality B

4. THE EUThe Segregated Labour MarketOne important part of the European Employment Strategy and theLisbon process is to increase the female employment rate inEU. 2004: 55,7%. The Lisbon process’ target for 2010: 60%.(Commission report on gender equality 2006 p 5)The gender employment gap in EU member states varies betweenca 3 % in Denmark to ca 40 % in Malta. (Commission report ongender equality 2006 p 13) The average is 15,2 %.Labour force participation rate of women between 15 and 64 years76,6 per cent in Sweden and 50,4 per cent in Italy (OECD,Employment 2005, p.240)In the latest yearly report from the European Commission ongender equality in the union, the Commission (2006 p 3) writesthat „gender policies contribute to employment and growth“,and that „gender equality as essential in meeting the labourmarket challenges“