This paper analysis the evolution of employment and unemployment gender gaps
in Croatia since 1996, and compares them with those in other transition countries
of Central and Eastern Europe. It also provides the examination of female
employment characteristics, distinguishing by age group, level of educational
attainment, working times, and family situation. Our main findings are as
follows: (i) taking into account gender employment gap in Croatia and other
transition countries, women's relative position in employment is not worse than in
the EU 15 countries, on the contrary the data suggest that it is even better
(however, employment rates for both men and women are lower than in the EU
15 countries), (ii) the gap in employment rates in Croatia is mainly the result of
differences that exist in older age group, over 50, where the gap is higher than
the gap for „prime age“ group, (iii) the educational gender gap in Croatia is
narrowing for all levels of educational attainment and the gap in employment
rates is significantly lower for the higher educated categories, (iv) only 11% of
all employed women in Croatia work part-time, which is significantly lower than
in the EU 15 countries, but it is similar with other transition countries, (v) gender
gaps in employment rates between mothers and fathers in Croatia are higher as
the number of children rises, (vi) gender unemployment gap in Croatia is higher
than in the most other transition countries (unemployment rates are higher for
less educated women), and (vii) labour market adjustment for females during the
mid- transition period was mainly through lower female participation rates
rather than by higher unemployment.