The gender pay gap in Andalusia has decreased by more than seven points in the period 2018-2022, according to the latest Salary Structure Survey published by the National Statistics Institute (INE) for the year 2022. For the first time in the entire historical series, the wage gap between men and women is below 4,500 euros. Coinciding with the Equal Pay Day, celebrated on February 22, Loles López, the Minister of Social Inclusion, Youth, Families, and Equality, has positively assessed this decrease but has emphasized the need to continue working to eliminate all inequalities in the economic, business, and labor spheres.
The commemoration of Equal Pay Day aims to raise awareness among the public about the lack of equity in the compensation received by women and men. The wage gap is the indicator that measures this inequality. According to the latest data from the Salary Structure Survey, in 2022, the most recent data available, this difference stood at 4,460.02 euros and 17.02%. These figures represent a historical low since the survey was first published in 2004. From 2012 to 2018, the gender pay gap remained around 24%; however, since then, it has gradually decreased. In the period 2018-2022, it has fallen by 1,580.56 euros and 7.4 points, as in 2018, the wage gap amounted to 6,040.58 euros and 24.44 percentage points.
López has emphasized that «there is still work to be done», but noted that the measures implemented in recent years «are bearing fruit.» She highlighted that in addition to the reduction in the gender pay gap, «Andalusia is the second autonomous community in Spain where female unemployment has decreased the most since 2018, reaching 36% of women in senior management positions, 12 points higher than six years ago, and there is a record number of female entrepreneurs.»
Graph on the decrease in the gender pay gap in Andalusia.
The minister has pledged to continue promoting egalitarian measures in all sectors to ensure that equality is real and effective in Andalusia. She has also made all the services of the Andalusian Women’s Institute available to Andalusian companies. Specifically, the EQUITY service, which provides assistance in all phases of developing equality plans, business training from a gender perspective, support in developing protocols against sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination, digital tools, regulations, and calls for proposals. This program is aimed at public and private companies, organizations, labor associations, public bodies, consultants, and the general public. It is operational on the website of the Andalusian Women’s Institute and the women’s helpline at 900 200 999.
Breaking Stereotypes
This service assisted a total of 236 Andalusian companies in 2024, who made nearly 600 inquiries (576) to create more equitable and harassment-free work environments. This represents a 31% increase in companies from the previous year and a 20% increase in inquiries. Additionally, the Andalusian Network of Conciliation Entities (RAEC) ended the previous year with 571 organization memberships, a 16% increase from 2023.
The Equality Minister also highlighted that last year saw the launch of the first call for the Andalusian Excellence in Equality Brand, aimed at companies to showcase best practices in the business sector. In February of this year, an agreement was signed with the Ministry of University, Research, and Innovation, through Andalusia Emprende, to promote entrepreneurship among women and eliminate gender biases in the sector. Also, within the educational sphere, the Andalusian Women’s Institute encourages female students to study scientific and technological careers, where women’s presence remains in the minority, through projects like ‘Expanding Professional Horizons’ focused on Vocational Training.