The data of this year's World Economic Forum report shows that Poland is a country of contrasts. On the one hand, In educational achievements, we are close to the world leaders. We have achieved full equality in access to primary and higher education. Every year, Polish universities leave thousands of well -educated women. Unfortunately, these results do not translate into the labor market. The potential developed in college is blurred in contact with the realities of the corporate hierarchy.
In the “Participation and opportunities in the economy” category, Poland ranks 64th, closing the gender gap in 71.3 percent. This means that almost 30 percent Women's economic potential remains unused due to system and structural barriers.
The WEF data clearly show where the largest barriers appear on the career path of Polish women.
The first of them is severe wage gap. – According to GUS data, the average wage gap between women and men is about 13 percent, but when we take into account differences in industries and positions, this difference can reach over 20 percent. – emphasizes Katarzyna Gaweł, Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in RASP, referring to data from the Grape and UNGC Network Poland report from 2025. “Equality and professional aspirations of women and men”.
The second barrier is limited access to managerial positions. Women constitute only 59.3 percent Compared to men in this professional group, which gives us 58th place. – The problem is structural. 70 percent Polish companies have not a single woman in her authorities – adds the expert.
In addition, women participate in the labor market less often. The professional activity of women in Poland accounts for 73.8 percent. Men's activity, which often results from disproportionate burden of care.
Barriers that inhibit progress
During the presentation of the report, Sue Duke, the head of the global department for public policy in LinkedIn, emphasized that in times of economic uncertainty system barriers and unconscious prejudices in decisions on employment inhibit women's progress. Norman Lyaza from the World Bank added that if women had equal access to the labor market, global GDP could increase by up to 20 percent.
Katarzyna Gaweł believes that the biggest challenge is the transformation formal equality in real equality. Women have equal access to education, but they collide with structural and cultural barriers.
– Women still pay the so -called The punishment for motherhood – their professional activity decreases with every child born, earnings decrease, and they themselves have less chance of promotion. Meanwhile, fathers get a bonus for paternity – their professional activity is growing with every child, advance and earn more.
Only 18.4 percent women go to supervisory boards and management boards of the largest listed companies. – Here comes the “Women on Boards” directive, but it covers only listed companies – he emphasizes.
– The Grape and UNGC Network Poland report shows that the presence of at least two women on the board reduces the pay gap by up to five percentage points – adds the expert.
Equality will not happen by itself
Katarzyna Gaweł emphasizes that gender equality will not happen alone. Campaigns are not enough, a strategy is needed, consistent actions and a change in narrative.
– We are still operating in a reality in which a working woman is the norm, but a promoting woman – not necessarily. The father on parental leave is a “hero”, not just a parent. We lack the language of switching on, narrative and education that would support the equality model of social and family life from kindergarten to the conference room – comments the expert.
As he points out, equality should be an integral part of public policies. The key is the mandatory reporting of the wage gap, the system of sex amounts in boards and supervisory boards, investments in care services or activities for the equal division of domestic and care obligations. – Education is also an important element. One that raises the issues of stereotypes, unconscious prejudices, partnership and safety of women. Only then will equality become a real foundation, not a declaration – he adds.
This is a job that never ends
It would seem that we have already said everything in terms of gender equality. This is not a topic overlooked by the media, but everything indicates that there is still a lot to be done.
Katarzyna Gaweł confirms: This is a picture of our bubble. In opinion -forming media, the subject of equality is actually present more and more often. We are talking about payroll, equal parenting, female leadership. Valuable reports, campaigns, podcasts, and articles are created. Only that they often go to those who are already convinced.
– In RASP for five years we have been using the Equalvoice algorithm to measure the participation of women's voice in our media, raising it to 40 percent. Our assistant Equalvoice in the Ring Publishing detects sex stereotypes and proposes alternative wording. However, on a daily basis, we still meet with sexism at schools, at universities, at work – from unaware stereotypes to explicit discrimination – emphasizes the expert and cites hard data:
– as much as 47 percent Men believe that “women already have enough laws in Poland today” (CBOS 2024). Only 17 percent use parental leave. fathers and in its incomplete dimension. As much as 80 percent People in Poland are not even aware of the existence of a wage gap, and in seven out of ten companies you do not talk about it at all (“Equality in the workplace. Wage gap in Poland”, Women's Congress and Maison & Partner, 2021).
– The change is visible, but unevenly, often only in the largest cities, in specific social and professional environments. When I hear that “we have already talked about it”, I answer: yes, but did something really change? Because if, according to WEF forecasts, we are to close the global gender gap for 123 years, then maybe it is worth talking differently, more often and even louder?
