Insights into Serbia’s labor landscape: Employment trends and gender disparities

On this International Labor Day, the Republic Institute of Statistics released data indicating that Serbia had an employment rate of 50.2 percent in 2023, with nearly 2.4 million registered employees in the first quarter of this year.

According to the institute’s report on May 1, the employment rate for women in 2023 stood at 43.8 percent, while for men, it was 57 percent.
A significant portion of the workforce, 21.8 percent, is employed in the processing industry, followed by 15.7 percent in retail and wholesale trade, including motor vehicle repairs. Additionally, 7.3 percent work in health and social care, 6.9 percent in state administration and mandatory social insurance, and 6.8 percent in education.

In terms of leisure activities, television remains the primary choice for both men and women, with men spending an average of 119 minutes and women 104 minutes. Socializing and entertainment rank second, with men spending 97 minutes and women 87 minutes. Sports and outdoor activities follow, with men dedicating 19 minutes and women 17 minutes. Reading time is slightly lower, with women spending 13 minutes compared to men’s eight.
However, the Women’s Network Against Violence highlighted concerning findings from the Republic Institute of Statistics regarding gender pay disparities. On average, women earn 14.26 percent less than men, despite having similar qualifications. The organization emphasized that women face challenges in job acquisition, slower career advancement, and various forms of discrimination, exacerbating the wage gap.

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