In a publication issued in December 2007, the Central Statistical Office for Poland sets out comprehensive results – with international comparisons – of research on the participation and position of women in social and economic life. The data concerning the economic activity of women and their incomes are of particular interest. Women represent 60% of the economically inactive population in Poland, while working women earn significantly less than men.
The Central Statistical Office for Poland (Główny Urząd Statystyczny, GUS) published a report on Women in Poland (in English and Polish, 9.2Mb PDF) in December 2007. The study sets out comprehensive results of research on the participation and position of women in social and economic life. The report also draws on international statistics to make cross-country comparisons. Data concerning the economic activity of women and their incomes are of particular interest for the European Working Conditions Observatory (EWCO).
Economic activity
Research on business activity among the population (Badania Aktywności Ekonomicznej Ludności, BAEL) carried out by GUS adopts the basic division of occupational activity and inactivity; the main indicator comprises performing or holding a job or at least looking for a job. Tables 1 and 2 set out relevant data on the economic activity of women for the fourth quarter of 2005.
Table 1 shows the economic activity of women according to age. The most active group appears to be women aged between 25 and 34 years old, although more full-time working women are found in the 45–54 age group. Fewer women than men work on a full-time basis; overall, women represent 43.1% of the population working full time. Moreover, women represent 60.6% of the economically inactive population.
Table 1: Economic activity of women, by age
| Age | Total | Economically active | Economically inactive |
| Total | Working | Unemployed |
| Total | Full time |
| 000s: |
| Total (15 years ) | 16,395 | 7,880 | 6,434 | 5,519 | 1,445 | 8,515 |
| 15–24 | 2,860 | 899 | 576 | 432 | 323 | 1,961 |
| 25–34 | 2,837 | 2,240 | 1,811 | 1,594 | 429 | 596 |
| 35–44 | 2,399 | 2,028 | 1,703 | 1,542 | 325 | 371 |
| 45–54 | 3,044 | 2,121 | 1,791 | 1,621 | 330 | 923 |
| 55–59 | 1,302 | 366 | 333 | 242 | 33 | 936 |
| 60 | 3,953 | 226 | 220 | 89 | 6 | 3,729 |
| As % of total population (women and men) for each category: |
| Total | 52.3 | 45.6 | 44.7 | 43.1 | 49.9 | 60.6 |
Note: The age groups outline data per thousand women in each category. The bottom row outlines the percentage that women represent of the total population, including women and men, in each category. For example, women represent 52.3% of the total population of working age and 45.6% of the total economically active population. Data for fourth quarter of 2005.
Source: GUS, ‘Women in Poland’, Warsaw 2007
Table 2 examines more closely the situation of economically inactive women, outlining the reasons for their inactivity. Family and household duties are given as one of the more common reasons in this regard; indeed, women represent 97.1% of all those reporting this factor.
Table 2: Reasons for economic inactivity among women
| | Total (000s) | As % of total economically inactive population citing the given reason (more than one reason could be given) |
| Total | 8,515 | 60.6 |
| Not looking for a job | 8,416 | 60.6 |
| Reasons cited: |
| - Discouraged by unsuccessful job search | 218 | 57.7 |
| - Studying or training | 1,817 | 50.7 |
| - Family and household duties | 1,207 | 97.1 |
| - In receipt of disability benefits/pension | 3,236 | 61.9 |
| - Illness, disability | 1,524 | 54.8 |
| Looking for a job but not prepared to accept one yet | 85 | 65.9 |
Note: Data for fourth quarter of 2005.
Source: GUS, ‘Women in Poland’, Warsaw 2007
Comparing Polish data on women’s economic activity with relevant figures from other countries reveals that the situation in Poland does not differ greatly from other EU Member States of similar standing (Table 3). According to data for 2005 from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), women represent 45.4% of the total economically active population, compared with 50% in Estonia and 44% in the Czech Republic. Despite the generally similar data outlined in this table, women in Poland nonetheless represent a higher proportion of the unemployed population (49%) than is the case in many other countries.
Table 3: Economically active women in selected EU countries (as % of active population)
| Country | Total | Working | Unemployed |
| Bulgaria | 46.5 | 46.6 | 45.5 |
| Czech Republic | 44.1 | 43.2 | 54.4 |
| Estonia | 50.0 | 50.6 | 44.6 |
| Hungary | 45.9 | 45.7 | 47.7 |
| Latvia | 48.3 | 48.5 | 46.6 |
| Lithuania | 49.1 | 49.1 | 49.5 |
| Poland | 45.4 | 44.7 | 49.0 |
| Romania | 44.9 | 45.2 | 40.3 |
| Slovakia | 44.9 | 44.4 | 47.7 |
| Slovenia | 46.1 | 45.9 | 48.3 |
Note: Data for 2005, taken from OECD, 2006.
Source: GUS, ‘Women in Poland’, Warsaw 2007
Income
The data published by GUS include a comparison of the earnings of women and men in full-time employment. Table 4 highlights the scale of inequalities in this regard for 2002 and 2004, with women clearly earning significantly less than men within every age group.
Table 4: Full-time employment and average earnings before tax, by sex and age, 2002 and 2004
| | 2002 | 2004 | 2002 | 2004 |
| Employed full time (%) | Average gross earnings in PLN |
| Women | Men | Women | Men | Women | Men | Women | Men |
| Total | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 2,015.79 | 2,425.00 | 2,150.44 | 2,571.64 |
| By age: |
| 24 or less | 5.7 | 7.5 | 5.1 | 6.8 | 1,311.20 | 1,442.52 | 1,312.76 | 1,460.86 |
| 25–34 | 25.3 | 29.6 | 26.9 | 30.3 | 1,906.32 | 2,254.53 | 1,984.37 | 2,313.62 |
| 35–44 | 31.9 | 28.1 | 30.8 | 26.4 | 2,011.41 | 2,552.86 | 2,154.89 | 2,691.42 |
| 45–54 | 32.6 | 27.1 | 32.7 | 28.3 | 2,144.63 | 2,585.66 | 2,298.80 | 2,733.27 |
| 55–59 | 3.6 | 5.4 | 3.7 | 6.0 | 2,590.30 | 2,880.78 | 2,910.24 | 3,291.09 |
| 60–64 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 2,778.05 | 3,240.14 | 3,392.41 | 3,982.29 |
| 65 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 2,694.46 | 3,396.76 | 3,159.15 | 4,303.86 |
Note: 1 PLN = €0.29; €1 = 3.48 PLN, as at 4 April 2008.
Source: GUS, ‘Women in Poland’, Warsaw 2007
Furthermore, Table 5 outlines international comparative data on risk exposure to poverty in countries with a similar economic and social situation, as expressed by the proportion of people with earnings falling below the poverty line (taken as 60% of average income). Thus, 20% of women in Poland are at risk of poverty, as are 21% of men; these percentages compare unfavourably with the other countries listed.
Table 5: Risk of poverty, by sex, in selected EU countries (%)
| Country | Women | Men |
| Bulgaria | 15 | 12 |
| Czech Republic | 11 | 10 |
| Estonia | 19 | 17 |
| Hungary | 13 | 14 |
| Latvia | 20 | 18 |
| Lithuania | 21 | 20 |
| Poland | 20 | 21 |
| Romania | 18 | 17 |
| Slovakia | 13 | 13 |
| Slovenia | 14 | 11 |
Note: Data for 2005, taken from Eurostat.
Source: GUS, ‘Women in Poland’, Warsaw 2007
Commentary
The data presented above illustrate the extent of economic inactivity among Polish women. They also indicate that a significant factor contributing to this situation relates to family and household duties. The international comparisons, meanwhile, reveal that women in Poland have among the highest risk levels of poverty within countries of similar standing.
Jacek Sroka, Institute of Public Affairs (ISP)