Sex discrimination within the Romanian labor market – Myth or reallity?

The constant fight against discrimination of any nature constitutes one of the most important objectives of the European Union. Special directives have been adopted with regard to this aspect, comprising measures for fighting discrimination generally and especially discrimination related to the labour market (Directives 76/207/CEE or 86/613/CEE). The article treats sex discrimination within the Romanian labour market from an economic perspective. We shall present the characteristics and particularities of the Romanian labour market, from the point of view of sex structure, in the period 1990-2006: the occupation rate of the population, the unemployment rate, income level, period of activity, retirement level and retirement receiving period. The analysis of sex discrimination within the Romanian labour market will take into account the differences between the two types of population considered, differences which are due to certain physiological and psychological characteristics. These characteristics may determine biases towards certain types of economic activities for which the income level, work schedule and work condition might differ.