EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN AND MEN IN LABOUR MARKET AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE CONTEXT OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION

Abstract

At present the gender equality and its policy is an important element and a priority in labour market of European Union (EU) and European Employment Strategy (EES). The right to equality opportunities in the labour market to all women and men is one of the most fundamental principles of a modern society in European Union (EU), including Lithuania labour market.
Different theoretical approaches to equality in the society are based on culture, political, social values and economic development in the country. The paper analyzes the gap between women and men in labour market. The gap in one fi eld of life (labour market) is related with other fi elds (education, services) and might have an impact on them. The effects of these gaps may be passed from one generation to the next.
The article discusses the relationships between labour market and economical growth and later checks how the theory proved itself in the case of Lithuania. Economical growth is one of the main concerns of nowadays economical science, because the economical growth of any country increases the welfare of its citizens.
The aim of the research is to determine and characterize women and men equality in Lithuania labour market and to show its relationships with economical growth in the context of European integration.
Research methods applied are the comparative analysis of women and men equality in labour market in European Union and Lithuania based on the synthesis of offi cial European Community publications, scientifi c literature and systematic data analysis as well as identifi cation of gender equality dimensions using questionnaire in Lithuania.