Women in Contracting

“Independent working gives you confidence in your own abilities. If you're good clients will hear about your work and be happy to work with you… Freedom to choose when and with whom you work….”
Quote from Respondent

Professional contracting in Ireland remains male dominated, with women accounting for 28% and men for 72% of contractors.

While women maintain a meaningful presence in contracting, progress is uneven and increasingly concentrated in specific industries rather than broad-based across the sector. Gender representation remains highly uneven across industries. Women are overrepresented in at 60% in the Medical Locum sector and 34% in the Finance sector. In contrast, women remain underrepresented in most other large contracting sectors, including Technology (25%), Pharma, Med Device and Life Science (21%), and Engineering and Technical Activities (19%). The percentage of female contractors over 50 increased from 32% in 2025 to 38% in 2026, while those under 50 fell from 68% to 62%. Female contractors 29 years and under also decreased from 12% in 2025 to 9% in 2026.

In terms of education, female contractors holding a Master’s degree increased to 45% compared with men where 37% hold a Master’s. Women with other professional qualifications fell to 8%. Women’s average annual earnings fell while men’s earnings increased, doubling the gender pay gap from 3.6% to 7.6%. Women’s average annual earnings are down 2.7% to €111,624, while men’s average earnings increased by 1.4% to €120,755. The earnings gap widened with men earning on average €9,131 per annum more than women. Women’s financial position weakened in 2026, with earnings pressure concentrated in mid-career stages that typically represent peak earning years for contractors. Earnings for women aged 30–39 dropped 10.2% to €96,279 and dropped 4.9% for those aged 40–49 to €113,484. Earnings remained largely unchanged for the 50–59 group and increased by 3.7% for those aged 60 and over.

Women’s motivations and satisfaction levels remain positive. 81% entered contracting voluntarily, and 76% expressed their intention to remain contracting. Women’s satisfaction levels with contracting as a career remained high but pay satisfaction declined down 9% year on year to 78%. 79% expressed satisfaction with career progress, 84% were satisfied with the success achieved in their careers. Satisfaction with flexibility (87%), work-life balance (81%), and life in general (85%) all remained strong. However, women are reporting a decrease in wellbeing factors with 29% experiencing loneliness and 15% experiencing burnout. Women’s confidence in the contracting sector in the next 3–5 years fell from +27 to +23, while confidence in the performance of the Irish economy dropped from +13 to +7. Although women remained slightly more confident than men, the decrease in the confidence index score reflects increased uncertainty particularly in Ireland’s economic performance in 2026. Women in contracting remain highly qualified and strongly motivated, but experienced weaker pay outcomes, reduced confidence, and higher loneliness. The year marks a move away from the financial advantages women held last year, despite a profile that would typically support stronger earnings.

Age

The age profile of female contractors changed in 2026. The average age of female contractors has increased from 44 years to 45 years. The share of women aged 60+ increased from 9% in 2025 to 13% in 2026 while those 29 & below fell from 12% in 2025 to 9% in 2026. Women aged 40–49 declined from 32% to 28%, while the percentage of those aged between 50–59 years increased from 23% to 25% in 2026. The percentage of older male contractors also increased, with those aged 60+ increasing from 16% in 2025 to 19%, in 2026.

47 Years

Men

2026

45 Years

Women

2026

45 Years

Men

2025

44 Years

Women

2025

Average Age Throughout The Years

49

Men

2024

46

Women

2024

50

Men

2023

47

Women

2023

Education

Both male and female contractors are highly educated with 98% of females and 96% of males having a third level education or equivalent professional qualification. Women hold a higher percentage of master’s degree qualification compared to men 45% females, 37% of males. Women with other professional qualifications fell from 14% in 2025 to 8% in 2026 suggesting a shift towards formal academic credentials. Women contractors in 2026 were more academically qualified than in 2025 and more qualified than their men counterparts.

Industry Split by Gender

Women’s sector participation changed in 2026 compared to 2025, there was higher participation in Finance and Medical Locum sectors while there was a reduction in Technology, Pharma and Engineering. Women in Finance increased from 23% in 2025 to 34% in 2026 and in Medical Locum from 44%in 2025 to 60% in 2026. Meanwhile, women’s share fell in Pharma/Med Device/Life Science from 26% to 21% in 2026, Engineering from 22% to 19% and dropped slightly in Technology from 26% to 25%.

Daily Rate By Gender

omen’s average daily rate position weakened in 2026 despite stronger qualifications and an older profile. Women’s mean day rate fell from €565 to €540 (-4.4%), while men’s increased from €548 to €563 (+2.7%). In 2025 women earned approximately €17 /day mor than men, a gender pay gap of 3.1% in favour of women, in 2026 this has reversed, where women now earn on average €23 less than men /day.

In the Private sector, women’s earnings fell from €123,486 to €106,325 and the daily rate fell from €566 to €507. In contrast, annual earnings in the Public sector increased from €109,776 to €125,928 and Charitable/Not for profit sector increased significantly from €115,200 to €155,625 with the daily rate rising €527 to €797. Male contractors experienced declines across all sectors.

 

Annual Earnings

In terms of average annual earnings this year’s survey findings show a reversal in the progress that had been made in the reduction of the gender pay gap in the contracting sector in 2025. The gender pay gap had reduced to 3.6% in 2025 but has increased this year to 7.6%. According to the CSO 2024 data, Ireland’s labour market gender pay gap was 6.9%. It is important to note that the gender pay gap has increased and efforts need to continue to bring about gender pay equality.

In the Private sector, women’s earnings fell from €123,486 to €106,325 and the daily rate fell from €566 to €507. In contrast, annual earnings in the Public sector increased from €109,776 to €125,928 and Charitable/Not for profit sector increased significantly from €115,200 to €155,625 with the daily rate rising €527 to €797. Male contractors experienced declines across all sectors.

Annual earnings changes in 2026 are most pronounced in the mid-career age groups for women, while men’s earnings generally improved or held steady. For contractors aged 29 & below, male earnings increased from €77,231 in 2025 to €86,453 in 2026 an increase of +11.9%. Female earnings increased from €79,594 to €82,054 (+3.1%).

The largest shift in annual earnings occurred in the 30–39 age category. Men’s earnings increased from €101,526 to €106,567 (+5.0%), while women’s earnings fell sharply from €107,156 to €96,279 (-10.2%). In the 40–49 age group, earnings declined for both genders. Men’s earnings decreased from €124,511 to €114,542 (-8.0%), while women’s decreased from €119,324 to €113,484 (-4.9%).

In the 50–59 category, men’s earnings declined from €136,709 to €131,089 (-4.1%), while women’s earnings remained stable €126,578 to €126,373, (-0.2). For contractors aged 60 & over, both annual earnings figures increased. Men’s rose from €139,758 to €146,616 (+4.9%) and women’s from €127,087 to €131,848 (+3.7%).

Overall, women in the 30–39 and, to a lesser extent, 40–49 age groups lost meaningful earnings ground in the age bands that typically deliver peak contracting income. At the same time, men’s earnings strengthened in the youngest and oldest categories. As a result, the gender pay gap widened from 3.7% in 2025 to 7.6% in 2026.

 

 

Average Annual Earnings

Female average annual earnings in 2026 were at €111,624 and male average annual earnings were at €120,755. This reflects a drop in average annual earnings of 2.7% for female contractors and an increase of 1.4% for male contractors since 2025 report.

€120,755.00

Male

2026

€111,624.00

Female

2026

Reason to Become Self-Employed

Women’s motivations to become self-employed remained consistently positive and unchanged. Women stayed at 81% voluntary and 19% involuntary entry in both years, while men improved slightly.

Women’s intention to stay has increased to 77% from 76% in 2025 but is still lower than men’s at 82%.

Greatest Concerns About Independent Working

Female contractor’s biggest concern about independent working is around having a sufficient pension, whereas male contractor’s primary concern is around the continuity of work.

Well-Being

Loneliness among women contractors increased sharply in 2026. Women reporting loneliness increased from 20% to 29%, overtaking men 28%. Burnout increased slightly for women increasing from 14% in 2025 to 15% in 2026. Men experiencing burnout in 2026 has risen from 13% in 2025 to 17% in 2026.

Career Satisfaction

Women’s satisfaction with rate of pay dropped significantly, while lifestyle satisfaction remained strong. This year satisfaction with rate of pay fell from 86% to 78%. Satisfaction with progress made towards meeting overall career goals fell from 82% in 2025 to 79% in 2026, and success achieved in career fell from 87% to 84%. However, women remained highly satisfied with flexibility of hours 87%, work-life balance 81%, and life in general 85%. This shows women still value the lifestyle benefits of contracting but feel less rewarded financially.

Confidence Index

Women’s confidence index scores declined in 2026, particularly regarding the performance of the Irish economy. Confidence in the contracting sector fell from +27 to +23 and confidence in the performance of the Irish economy fell from +13 to +7. Women remained more optimistic than men about the future of the contracting sector and just slightly more optimistic than men about the performance of the

Irish economy in 2026 compared to 2025.

The Contracting Sector

Confidence Index

Female Male
2026 +23 +20
2025 +27 +25
2024 +33 +28
2023 +32 +30
2022 +37 +38
2021 +30 +30

 

 

The Irish Economy

Confidence Index

Female Male
2026 +7 +6
2025 +13 +18
2024 +20 +15
2023 +3 +12
2022 +37 +39
2021 -87 +10
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