More young women than men are going into further education but they work less than their male colleagues once they have completed their studies, new research by the national statistics office CBS shows.
In the 2008-2009 educational year 152,000 women attended hbo colleges, compared with 133,000 men. There were also 87,000 women university undergraduates and 76,000 male students.
But once they complete their studies, women work fewer hours than men even though more of them have degrees, according to the research quoted in the Telegraaf on Tuesday.
Family minister André Rouvoet, who commissioned the research, said choice is the key element. ‘I will not hunt women into the labour market,’ he told the paper.
Balance
However, the minister said he hoped that more women would be encouraged to work by improving the balance between paid employment and leisure ‘so that women use their talents on the jobs market as well’.
‘This is good for the economy, industry and families,’ he said.
Research from the government’s socio-economic policy institute SCP last year showed half of Dutch women work fewer than 25 hours a week. Most of them work part-time through choice, even if they don’t have children.
