Women account for 51 % of the labor force in Martinique, but only 41 % of self-employed workers. The figures published for 2024–2025 also reveal contrasting income disparities: while women fare better among the self-employed, the trend is reversed among sole proprietors and employees.
A near-parity that does not extend to the self-employed
The participation of women and men in Martinique’s economy appears generally balanced. According to the figures presented in the publication, women account for 51 % of the workforce, versus 49 % for men.
However, this near-parity is not reflected in self-employment. Men account for 59 % of self-employed workers in Martinique, while women account for only 41 %. There is therefore still an 18-point gap between the two genders in this category.
These data reveal a mixed picture. Women make up a slight majority of the workforce, but they remain underrepresented when it comes to working as self-employed individuals.
Healthcare, Construction, and Transportation: Enduring Specializations
The distribution of activities also remains influenced by gender. Certain fields appear to be more commonly represented among women, while others remain more closely associated with men.
Among women, the sectors with the highest representation are:
- activities related to human health and social services;
- paramedical professions and the profession of midwifery;
- hair and body care.
Among men, the most common activities are:
- construction and public works;
- the automotive sales and repair industry;
- freight trucking and moving services.
The publication does not provide detailed percentages for these activities. Nevertheless, these figures show that occupational specialization remains gendered, both in the health and service sectors and in construction, the automotive industry, and transportation.
A benefit for women limited to the self-employed
Income disparities do not follow a single trend. Among self-employed workers, women earn, on average, 31,624 euros per year, versus 29,320 euros for men. The gap amounts to 2,304 euros—or approximately 7.9 %—in favor of women.
The situation is the opposite for self-employed individuals. The average annual income is 8,084 euros for men, versus 5,778 euros for women. Female self-employed entrepreneurs thus earn approximately 28.5 % less than their male counterparts.
For employees, annual income amounts to 39,051 euros for men and 35,684 euros for women. The gap amounts to 3,367 euros, or approximately 8.6 %, to the detriment of women.
However, these figures do not allow us to measure the pay gap for equal work. The publication does not specify the hours worked, the occupations held, or the length of service of the workers in question.
Levels below national benchmarks
Beyond the differences between women and men, incomes in Martinique remain, on the whole, lower than the national benchmarks presented in the document.
Among the self-employed, the average income for men is 40.3 1Q3Q below the national level, compared with a difference of 19.5 % for women. Regional differences therefore appear to be particularly significant for men in this category.
The publication also points out discrepancies in –3.4 1Q3Q for men and –14.7 1Q3Q for women among self-employed individuals.
The same percentages are shown for employees. In the absence of methodological details, these comparisons should be considered as rough estimates derived from the document.
Significantly younger self-employed entrepreneurs
Generational renewal is another issue that has been highlighted. Self-employed women, on average, 46.5 years, while the average age of self-employed men is 50.3 years.
Self-employed entrepreneurs tend to be younger. Their average age is 42.7 years for women and to 43.6 years for men. The gender gap is therefore much less pronounced there.
Differences also emerge depending on the industry. The retail sector tends to have older business owners, while the health and services sectors are home to younger entrepreneurs. These data highlight the challenge of generational succession and business transitions in the coming years.
Economic participation thus appears to be nearly balanced in Martinique, though differences related to status, economic sector, and income remain. The growth of women’s entrepreneurship and generational renewal will be among the main challenges for a more egalitarian economy in Martinique.
Source: CGSS Martinique
