Gender inequality in Swedish economic sectors

Recent reports in Sweden highlight persistent gender disparities across different economic sectors. In the realm of entrepreneurship, data from Tillväxtanalys indicates that progress in gender equality has largely stagnated since the mid-2010s, with women-led companies rising only slightly from 27 percent in 2008 to nearly 29 percent in 2023. Women face specific hurdles in scaling businesses and accessing capital, receiving approximately one percent of Swedish venture capital since 2017.

Similarly, the ‘Pensionssprickan 2026’ report by Söderberg & Partners identifies significant gender gaps in retirement planning. Women receive, on average, 82 percent of the pension amount received by men, a gap that widens to 61 percent in occupational pensions. These disparities are attributed to factors such as lower average wages, increased part-time work, and longer parental leaves.

Newer data indicates that the average wage gap has remained largely unchanged since 2019, with women earning approximately 9.9 percent less than men, or roughly 4,500 SEK less per month. When adjusted for working hours, statistics suggest women effectively work unpaid time, receiving pay for approximately seven hours and twelve minutes of an eight-hour workday.

Economic disparities are further exacerbated by social policies. While capital gains and interest income have grown significantly since 1991, incomes tied to social insurance—such as parental leave, sickness benefits, and pensions—have not kept pace with inflation. Additionally, the child allowance has not been increased since 2018. These factors have contributed to Sweden dropping to seventh place in the World Economic Forum's gender equality rankings.