Taking the leap to move abroad and start a new life can offer incredible, unique benefits to those brave enough to take it. But rerooting your entire life doesn’t happen overnight; it requires a great deal of planning and preparation. This is especially true if your career will be an important aspect of your new life abroad. Not only will you want a country with abundant opportunities, but you will also need to take financial considerations into account – particularly when it comes to things like the cost of living and the gender pay gap.
In many countries, significant progress has been made in reducing the gap between men’s and women’s pay rates. But some countries have made better progress than others. Here are three countries that stand out as global leaders in establishing fair pay standards between the genders.
Iceland
Regularly near the top of the global gender equality rankings is Iceland – a country that’s been making significant progress over several years. At the beginning of 2018, the government enforced the Equal Pay Certification in a groundbreaking attempt to minimise the gender pay gap.
The act made it mandatory for companies with 25 or more employees to prove they’re paying men and women at the same rate. It’s important to note that the act does take into account the possibility of paying people differently based solely on their experience, education, responsibilities, and other individual factors that affect their ability to perform in their role. So while the standard doesn’t mean everyone can expect to earn the same amount, it does ensure that gender cannot be a relevant consideration when determining individual rates of pay.
New Zealand
On the other hand, New Zealand’s government has prioritised overcoming gender discrimination in recent years, with significant strides already made. According to recent government statistics published in 2022, the national gender pay gap stands at 9.2%, ranking New Zealand better than the OECD average.
As in any country, the pay gap can vary widely by industry. While some industries, like information, media, and technology, see lower pay disparities, many others significantly raise the national average. For example, there is a 25% pay gap between men and women in the financial and insurance services sector. When deciding on the most suitable destination for your relocation, consider how pay may differ in your industry and how this could affect your quality of life.
Belgium
Belgium continues to be a global leader in gender equality, especially in employment and pay. According to the most recent statistics, there is less disparity between men’s and women’s earnings in Belgium than in any other OECD nation, with a difference of just 1.2%.
One important thing to note if you’re considering moving to this beautiful destination is that the gender pay gap varies widely by age. Generally, trends indicate that the gap widens with age, making Belgium potentially less attractive to older professionals. What’s more, you can again expect to see greater differences between pay rates depending on your occupation, which is something you’ll likely want to research before committing to a move.
While the gender pay gap in any given country is an important factor in a working woman’s decision to move abroad, other factors should also be considered when determining its suitability as a new home country. For example, while Iceland offers relatively fair pay, the cost of living is significantly higher here than in other parts of the world, ranking as the second-most expensive place to live in the OECD, behind Switzerland. So, it’s important to take a holistic view of potential destinations to make a more informed decision about your move.