A cross-national comparison of gender differences in unemployment experience

The first Master thesis research, conducted within the EXCEPT project, was published at the Umeå University, Sweden.

The paper examines gender differences in unemployment experiences in 30 European countries. Multilevel regression analysis is used to test whether the effect of unemployment on wellbeing is moderated by gender, and if this moderation varies between national contexts.

Based on the premise that the need for employment and financial and psychological benefits of working differ for men and women, institutionalized gender roles regarding employment and family commitment are assessed as a theoretical explanation for cross-country divergences.

The results indicate that not being in work is associated with lower wellbeing. The association is greater for men than for women. Overall, the moderating effect of gender varies with gender differences in labour force participation, yet this cross-national variation is not observed when controlling for subjective income. These initial findings demonstrate possibilities for further, in-depth research in this area.