Irish women do not earn as much as their male colleagues, but work ten hours less each week.
A new report released by the Central Statistics Office, Women and Men in Ireland 2004, shows that the average female salary is just under a fifth less than a male worker.
The study also found a low rate of employment among women with young children, and those aged over 55.
Just over half of women with children under three years of age and a third of women aged between 55-64 belong to the workforce.
The report also reveals that men are generally more likely to die at an earlier age than women, with young men three times more at risk as a result of suicide and traffic accidents.
Overall, life expectancy for men is around five years less than women - with the average Irish man living to 75 years and female to 80.
