Women leave Irish workforce earlier than men, report shows

Balance for Better Business (BFBB) has released a report indicating that Irish women aged 50 to 65 are more likely to exit the labour market earlier than their male counterparts, shrinking the pool of experienced candidates for senior leadership and board roles.

Key findings

The study, titled “Why Women Exit the Workforce Earlier than Men in Later Career Stages: Irish and International Perspective and Policy Recommendations”, was published on 25 September. It notes that, despite higher-than‑average participation rates, Ireland has a larger gender gap in employment for the 55‑65 age group than the EU average.

Factors driving the early exit include menopause, caregiving duties, burnout, workplace ageism and limited career progression. BFBB found that women make up 61 % of unpaid carers in Ireland, often balancing work with caring for children or ageing relatives.

More than 90 % of workers over 55 reported experiencing age‑related discrimination, and over one‑third of female respondents said menopause symptoms had made them consider leaving work, with 9.2 % already having done so.

The report urges employers to adopt flexible working, stronger support for carers, inclusive leadership practices, and specific menopause policies to retain experienced female talent.

Source: Silicon Republic. Photo: wal_ 172619 / Pexels.