Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, Ministry of Finance, Labour Institute for Economic Research LABORE, ETLA Economic Research
Research project examines changes in gender pay gap over last 30 years

The gender pay gap has narrowed slowly in Finland. A new research project will produce, for the first time, an extensive long-term economic analysis of the factors that have contributed to the changes in the pay gap. 

The project is carried out jointly by the Labour Institute for Economic Research LABORE and ETLA Economic Research. The project is part of research activities supporting the Government’s decision-making, known as VN Tutkiva, and it is coordinated by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. 

Many factors influence the pay gap 

Despite various Equal Pay Programmes and gender equality policy measures, women’s average monthly earnings are still about 84 per cent of those of men.  

There are many factors behind the development of the gender pay gap. The project will analyse the impacts of economic fluctuations, structural changes in the labour market and labour market measures on changes in the gender pay gap. The statistical data goes back to 1995.  

Although there is previous research data available in Finland on the impact of individual factors, we lack comprehensive long-term and up-to-date research on the key factors affecting the pay gap. 

“The project offers a unique opportunity to examine the gender pay gap from a number of perspectives, such as the impacts of economic fluctuations, structural changes in the labour market, legislative changes and labour market measures over the long term.  The results of the project will support the promotion of equal pay and offer significant benefits when it comes to decision-making and official activities,” says Director of Labore Mika Maliranta.  

New research data to support measures for narrowing the gender pay gap   

Pay equality is one of the key gender equality issues in working life. The new economic data provided by the research project will support decision-making concerning the reduction of the pay gap, and the development of equal pay measures.   

Because the gender pay gap is influenced by many different factors and processes that extend beyond individual policy measures, it is important that the ways of narrowing the pay gap are based on extensive and comprehensive research data.   

The research project is part of the joint Equal Pay Programme of the Government and the central labour market organisations. The two-year project was launched in summer 2025, and its results are expected in spring 2027.   

Inquiries: 

Mika Maliranta, Professor, Labour Institute for Economic Research LABORE, Telephone +358 503698054, [email protected] 

Tanja Auvinen, Director, Gender Equality Unit, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Telephone+358 295163715, [email protected]