Do Predictors of Career Success Differ between Swedish Women and Men? Data from the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health (SLOSH)

PLoS One. 2015 Oct 26;10(10):e0140516. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140516. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

The aim of this prospective study was to explore predictors of objective career success among Swedish women and men, focussing on gender differences. Data were drawn from the 2008 and 2010 waves of the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health (SLOSH) with a total of 3670 female and 2773 male participants. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for job promotion and an above-average salary increase between 2008 and 2010 were obtained through binary logistic regression analyses. Individual and organisational factors measured in 2008 were used as predictors in analyses stratified by sex. Mutual adjustment was performed for these variables, as well as for labour market sector and staff category at baseline. In both sexes, younger age predicted both job promotion and an above-average salary increase. Job promotion was also in both sexes predicted by being part of decision-making processes, having conflicts with superiors, and being eager to advance. Furthermore, promotion was predicted by, among men, being educated to post-graduate level and having an open coping strategy and, among women, working >60 hours/week. An above-average salary increase was predicted in both sexes by having a university education. Postgraduate education, having children living at home, and being very motivated to advance predicted an above-average salary increase among women, as did working 51-60 hours/week and being part of decision-making processes in men. Gender differences were seen in several predictors. In conclusion, the results support previous findings of gender differences in predictors of career success. A high level of education, motivation to advance, and procedural justice appear to be more important predictors of career success among women, while open coping was a more important predictor among men.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Achievement*
  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Career Mobility*
  • Educational Status
  • Employment / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Salaries and Fringe Benefits / statistics & numerical data
  • Sex Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Sweden
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

This study was performed within the project “Female managers – which work-related and private factors affect their career development and health” funded by the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working life, and Welfare (FORTE, grant no. 2013-1253). This work was also supported by the Swedish Council for Working life (FORTE, grant no. 2005-0734, and grant no. 2009-1077) and the Swedish Research Council (VR, grant no. 2009-6192, grant no. 825-2013-1645, and grant no. 821-2013-1646), and in part funded by the Stockholm Stress Center, a FORTE Centre of Excellence (FORTE, grant no. 2009-1758). The funding sources were neither involved in the conduct of the research nor the preparation of the article.