Reducing working hours and a gender pay gap
In 2021, Icelanders worked an average of 35.8 hours per week, which was significantly less than the previous years. Iceland had a trial project from 2015 to 2019 where it reduced weekly working hours from 40 to 35 or 36 hours; after its successful implementation, the change was made permanent in 2021. Furthermore, men spend more time working than women, and the mining and quarrying industry clearly had the highest average working hours.In Iceland, there is a significant pay gap between men and women. In 2020, women earned 14 percent less than men on average. Despite this, Iceland ranks among the most gender equal countries in the world, and the pay gap is explained by Iceland's strong social care system and high wages, giving parents (usually mothers) greater opportunities to stay at home with young children.
