Danish men are more likely than Danish women to think about future salary and pension when choosing their education and career, according to research by Sampension.

The research showed that 38 per cent of men have considered to a "very high degree", "high degree" or "some degree" how much they could expect to receive in salary and pension in the long term when choosing their education and career, while 31 per cent of women said the same.

Sampension chief adviser, Helle Dalsgaard, said that historically, it has been the case that men are generally more concerned with financial matters than women.

Dalsgaard said that this difference seems to be reflected in the fact that men take their financial future into “greater” account when considering their choice of educational direction.

She said this could also contribute to men generally being more inclined to choose education and careers in professions where the salary is typically higher.

"The education you end up choosing can have a major impact on your finances in the long run," Dalsgaard continued.

“And therefore, the gender difference in education and career choices is also a contributing factor to the fact that economic equality continues to lag in Denmark, where women are still far behind men when it comes to income and pensions.”

According to figures from Statistics Denmark, the pay gap between women and men was 12.4 per cent in 2023, while women's pension assets were on average 19 per cent smaller than men's.

However, Sampension said that while there is still a “significant” gender gap, it seems to be getting smaller generation by generation.

Among those aged between 18 and 34, 65 per cent of men and 53 per cent of women considered how much they could expect to receive in salary and pension in the long term when choosing education and career.

Among those aged between 35 and 56, 37 per cent of men and 24 per cent of women said the same, while among those aged between 56 and 65, it was 20 per cent for men and 10 per cent for women.

Sampension’s research also showed that younger individuals prioritise financial considerations more than their older counterparts when selecting their educational paths.

Dalsgaard said that those who do not have a “realistic idea” of the financial prospects that come with the education and career they choose could in the long run face an “unpleasant financial surprise”.

“Therefore, it is positive that the younger generation in general – and not least women – increasingly have the future economy on their radar when choosing a field of study," she said.

She emphasised that people should primarily select an education that aligns with their passions, as this will motivate them throughout their long-term studies, ultimately shaping their future career paths.

---