Dutch Gig Economy Reverses Gender Pay Gap as Women Out-Earn Men

Dutch Gig Economy Reverses Gender Pay Gap as Women Out-Earn Men

2026-01-25 global

Amsterdam, Sunday, 25 January 2026.
Data from 2024 reveals a historic labor market inversion: Dutch female freelancers now earn higher average hourly rates than men, driven by sector scarcity and seniority, effectively reversing the traditional gender wage gap within the gig economy.

A Historic Reversal in Hourly Rates

In a significant departure from historical labor market trends, female freelancers in the Netherlands have officially overtaken their male counterparts in average hourly earnings. According to 2024 data analyzed by HeadFirst Group and Intelligence Group, the average hourly rate for female freelancers reached €25.90, compared to €25.10 for men [1]. This represents a difference of approximately 3.187 percent in favor of women [2]. This shift marks a distinct break from the dynamics of traditional salaried employment, where a substantial gender pay gap of 10.5 percent persists to the disadvantage of women [1]. In the salaried sector, the disparity remains stark, with men earning an average of €30.32 per hour versus €27.15 for women [1].

This inversion is not a sudden anomaly but the result of a long-term structural trend that has accelerated significantly since 2020 [2][5]. Since 2007, the income of female freelancers has grown at an annual average rate of 4.1 percent, more than double the 2 percent growth rate observed for men [6][8]. Analysts point to the COVID-19 pandemic as a catalyst; the normalization of remote work reduced the need for women to negotiate for flexibility—a point they previously had to bargain for more often than men—leveling the playing field regarding rates [2][6]. Furthermore, ten years ago, the freelance wage gap stood at over 10 percent in favor of men, highlighting the magnitude of this correction over the last decade [2][8].

Sector Scarcity Versus Technological Pressure

The underlying mechanics of this pay reversal are deeply rooted in sector-specific supply and demand. Female freelancers are strongly represented in sectors grappling with structural labor shortages, such as healthcare and government, where scarcity drives rates upward [1][2]. Conversely, male freelancers are more prevalent in the ICT sector [2]. While traditionally lucrative, rates in IT and data fields are currently facing downward pressure due to advancements in artificial intelligence, which is automating tasks previously performed by external consultants [1][5]. Additionally, the demographic composition plays a role; women often enter the freelance market later in their careers, leveraging senior-level expertise and higher qualifications to command premium rates immediately, whereas the male freelance population is more evenly distributed across all experience levels [5][6].

The Nuance of the Adjusted Gap

While the headline figures are promising for female entrepreneurship, a deeper analytical look reveals that the ‘adjusted’ gender wage gap has not entirely vanished. When correcting for job type, sector, and individual characteristics, male freelancers still earn approximately 2 percent more than women for comparable work [1]. However, this is significantly lower than the adjusted gaps found in salaried employment, which stand at 1.6 percent in the government sector and 6.1 percent in the private sector [1]. Experts emphasize that while the raw data shows women out-earning men on average, this is largely a function of their distribution in high-demand sectors rather than a complete elimination of unequal pay for identical work [4][6]. Nevertheless, with statistical models predicting this trend will continue, the gig economy appears to be offering a more meritocratic environment for female professionals than traditional employment structures [2][8].

Sources


Gig economy Labor markets