Gender gaps in access to professional occupations: The case of university graduates in Europe, 2004–2015

The study employed three-level logistics models using the EU-LFS data of 20 European countries to examine how the gender composition of academic fields of study and the demand for highly skilled workers affect the likelihood of women to be employed in professional occupations. In 2004, the concentration of women in specific fields of study contributed to widening gender inequality. In 2015, studying in a female-dominated field decreased the likelihood of employment in professional occupations for both men and women, but men studying in female-dominated fields were still more likely than women to enter professional occupations. Gender gaps are narrowing in labor markets seeking high-skilled employees, suggesting the likelihood of employment in professional occupations increases for both genders with an academic education.