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The Swedish Occupational Register with statistics 2016:

Even distribution between men and women among managers on the whole, but uneven distribution in manager occupations

Statistical news from Statistics Sweden 2018-03-07 9.30

In total, among managers (not including politicians, senior officials and CEOs), 60 percent were men and 40 percent were women in 2016. Women managers were mainly present in occupational groups dominated by women, while men were present in occupational groups dominated by men, such as construction and manufacturing.

In all except three sectors, the distribution by sex is different among managers than among employees, with a higher percentage of men among managers than among employees (1).

The largest percentage of women managers is present in education and in health and medical care, specifically in the occupations Pre-school managers and Managers in elderly care, in which 92 percent and 86 percent are women, respectively.

Production managers in construction and mining was the manager position with the largest percentage of men, 92 percent. Only 8 percent of managers in this area were women.

Manager functions in which the sex distribution was balanced included Finance managers, Information and communication managers, Public relations managers and Restaurant managers.

(1) All manager groups are included in the comparison, that is, also senior officials and politicians (such as ambassadors, municipal managers, Members of the Riksdag and State Secretaries), and senior officials in non-profit organisations (such as chairs and secretary generals). Occupational group 1.

Figure 1. Distribution between the sexes among employees compared with distribution between the sexes among managers, by economic activity (SNI2007 aggregate level) 2016

Chart

Distribution varies among blue collar workers and white collar workers, depending on region of birth 

‘Blue collar workers’ refers to those in occupational group 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, with the exception of occupations 5111, 5113, and 5242, which are classified as white collar workers. ‘White collar worker’ refers to those in occupational group 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, with the exception of occupations 3451, 4211, 4321, 4322, 4323 and 4420, which are classified as blue collar workers.

Table 1a shows the number and distribution of blue collar workers and white collar workers, by region of birth among employed men. Among employed men overall, 53 percent were blue collar workers and 47 percent were white collar workers. The distribution was approximately the same among men born in Sweden and those born in the Nordic region. Men born in Oceania accounted for the highest percentage, 63 percent, white collar workers. Men born in Africa had the lowest percentage, 22 percent, of white collar workers, followed by men born in Asia.

Table 1a. Distribution of blue collar workers and white collar workers among employed men, 2016
Region of birth 1)Blue collar workers, numberWhite collar workers, numberBlue collar workers, percentWhite collar workers, percent
Sweden
894 410 866 640 51 49
The Nordic countries, excluding Sweden
17 700 16 150 52 48
Europe excluding the Nordic countries
85 040 46 820 64 36
North and Central America
3 670 4 860 43 57
Oceania
660 1 140 37 63
Asia
72 880 37 800 66 34
South America
12 120 6 530 65 35
Africa
28 310 8 030 78 22
Unknown country of birth
140 50 72 28
Total, foreign born Men
220 520 121 390 64 36
Total, Men
1 114 930 988 020 53 47

1) Total number among those with occupation data listed according to the Swedish Standard Classification of Occupations (SSYK 2012) at the four-digit level. The figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

Table 1b shows the number and distribution of blue collar workers and white collar workers by region of birth among employed women. The largest difference between the distribution between men and women among blue collar workers and white collar workers was that there was a higher percentage of white collar workers among women than among men. Among women, the percentage of white collar workers was 56 percent, while among men it was nine percentage points lower, 47 percent.

Among employed women, the difference in the percentage of blue collar workers and white collar workers was also larger depending on country of birth than among men. Women born in Oceania have, as among men, the largest percentage of white collar workers, 68 percent, followed by women born in North and Central America and the Nordic countries, excluding Sweden, with 62 percent and 60 percent, respectively. Among Swedish born women, 59 percent were white collar workers. Women born in Africa had the lowest percentage of white collar workers, 20 percent, followed by women born in Asia, 38 percent.

Table 1b. Distribution of blue collar workers and white collar workers among employed women, 2016
Region of birth 1)Blue collar workers, numberWhite collar workers, numberBlue collar workers, percentWhite collar workers, percent
Sweden
718 740 1 018 660 41 59
The Nordic countries, excluding Sweden
17 940 26 410 40 60
Europe excluding the Nordic countries
67 680 56 460 55 45
North and Central America
2 860 4 690 38 62
Oceania
250 540 32 68
Asia
68 280 41 000 62 38
South America
11 610 7 630 60 40
Africa
22 450 5 670 80 20
Unknown country of birth
80 50 60 40
Total, foreign born Women
191 150 142 460 57 43
Total, Women
909 890 1 161 120 44 56

1) According to the Swedish Standard Classification of Occupations (SSYK 2012) at the four-digit level. The figures are rounded to the nearest 10, and thus the shares do not always add up to 100. Refers to occupations with at least 100 people from temporary employment agencies. Code 78200 according to SNI2007

Occupations with employees in temporary employment agencies

Assemblers not elsewhere classified, the occupation with the largest percentage of employed by temporary employment agencies

Among Assemblers not elsewhere classified, 35 percent were employed by a temporary employment agency, which makes it the occupation with the largest percentage of temporary staff. It is followed by Cabin crew and Fork-lift drivers with 17 percent and 15 percent, respectively.

The distribution between men and women in the occupations with large percentages of temporary employment was uneven, both overall in the occupations and among the temporary employees. Among Aircraft pilots and related associate professionals, 93 percent were men, while 94 percent among pilots from temporary employment agencies were men. The only occupation in which distribution among men and women was even in both cases was Customer service information clerks, with 40 percent men and 60 percent women in the occupation in total. The distribution among customer service information clerks from temporary employment agencies was more even more balanced, with 44 percent men and 56 percent women.

Pre-press technicians was an occupation that stood out due to the large gap in distribution between men and women in the occupation in total and employees from temporary employment agencies. There were 60 percent men and 40 percent women in the occupation in total. Among employees from temporary employment agencies, there were 91 percent men and 9 percent women instead.

Table 2a. Fifteen occupations with largest percentage of people employed by temporary employment agencies, 2016
  Sex distribution,
occupation
Sex distribution, temporary employment agencies
Occupation 1)Total numberMen, percentWomen, percentTemporary employment agencies, percentMen, percentWomen, percent
Cabin crew
9 260 75 25 35 73 27
Fork-lift drivers
2 310 20 80 17 21 79
Back office-staff
11 840 87 13 15 83 17
Warehouse and terminal Staff
2 080 37 63 14 39 61
Aircraft pilots and related associate professionals
79 380 79 21 12 79 21
Customer Service Information Clerks
1 590 93 7 11 94 6
Pre-press technicians
25 640 40 60 11 44 56
Machine operators not elsewhere classified, stationary plant and
1 800 60 40 10 91 9
Process control technicians not elsewhere classified
3 340 82 18 9 79 21
Ships' deck officers
2 640 85 15 7 76 24
Ground personnel, movers and stockers
1 450 94 6 7 97 3
Machine operator, cement, stone and other mineral products
5 530 91 9 7 79 21
Personnel and human resources specialist
1 780 96 4 7 92 8
Telephonist-switchboard operators
18 130 23 77 7 24 76
 
5 530 29 71 7 38 62

1) According to the Swedish Standard Classification of Occupations (SSYK 2012) at the four-digit level. The figures are rounded to the nearest 10, and thus the shares do not always add up to 100. Refers to occupations with at least 100 people from temporary employment agencies. Code 78200 according to SNI2007

Definitions and explanations

The information refers to employees aged 16-64 who are classified as gainfully employed according to the definition in the register-based labour market statistics (RAMS). Classification of gainfully employed persons is based mainly on statements of earnings and tax declaration information from the Swedish Tax Agency. For classification as gainfully employed, the person must be registered in the population records on 31 December and have an income that exceeds an estimated limit or conduct active business operations. Even those who were temporarily absent during the measurement period, for instance due to sickness or parental leave, are included in the frame. The term employee also refers to self-employed persons who run their operations as a limited company.

The occupations follow the classifications used in the Swedish Standard Classification of Occupations (SSYK 2012)

Publication

A more detailed report on this survey is published in the Statistical Report:

The Swedish occupational register (pdf) 

Next publishing will be

The next press release in this series will be published in March 2019.

Statistical Database

More information is available in the Statistical Database

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