Horizontal gender segregation and gender pay gap (GPG) in the light of social value of work and sustainable development. Case for Poland

The persistence of horizontal gender segregation and the gender pay gap (GPG) poses a significant challenge to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Success in reaching these goals requires considering both the economic and social aspects of work. In ongoing academic discourse, the topic of social value is increasingly addressed, and it serves as the background for the analyses in this article. The article aims to answer the question of the level of feminization and GPG in professions with varying levels of social value. The hypothesis is that professions with high social value are more feminized and have a lower pay gap compared to those with low social value. The study uses a mixed-method approach, integrating survey data from 2020 with statistical data from the Polish Central Statistical Office (GUS), focusing on professions classified at the third level of the ISCO-08 classification. This combination provides a detailed analysis of gender segregation and the GPG concerning the social value of work. The findings suggest that, in order to reduce pay inequalities, it is important not only to reduce horizontal segregation but also to support and recognize professions with a high level of social value.