The new statistics will be available for Tekna members.
“The statistics are important for us when we work politically to eliminate unjustified salary differences based on gender,” Haugsbø says.
She points out that employers have a clear responsibility to work systematically and proactively to prevent gender discrimination.
- It is prohibited to discriminate on the basis of gender, and employers must also ensure that women do not fall behind in terms of salary when they have children, Haugsbø says.
Can have major consequences
In Tekna’s 2023 report Do women earn less than men? – An analysis of Tekna members, a pay gap of around three per cent was uncovered between women and men in the private sector. In the public sector, the difference was around two per cent. This was after adjusting for factors such as education, occupational choice, position level and responsibility.
The Tekna President emphasises that even relatively small differences can have major consequences over time.
– A pay gap of three per cent may sound small, but across an entire working life it can amount to significant sums, she points out.
Haugsbø stresses that Tekna does not argue that everyone should earn the same, but that salary differences must be objective and gender‑neutral.
– It is absolutely essential that gender plays no role in how salaries are set, she says.
Important for employers
It is The salary and special interest committee in Tekna that has worked to publish these figures as a supplement to the standard salary statistics on tekna.no. Rune Seim, who leads the committee, is clear that this is important information both for Tekna representatives and for Tekna’s broader political work.
– When we can document that there are salary differences in Norway based on whether you are a woman or a man, this is knowledge that is also important for employers. All employers in Norway have a statutory duty to promote equality and prevent discrimination, including when it comes to salary, he says.
