What are the conditions for trans people in the labour market?
Conditions for trans people in the labour market are worse than those of cis people in a number of ways. The various aspects of working life conditions described show that exclusionary practices, such as discrimination and a negative, transphobic climate, are common obstacles to a safe and fulfilling working life. This is true both when searching for a job and in workplace environments.
Employment status
Trans women
Trans men
Non-binary and gender-diverse
All LGBTI people
Trans women
Non-binary and gender-diverse
Trans men
All LGBTI people
In part-time or temporary paid work
In full-time paid work (including paternity or other temporary leave)
Unemployed
Student, pupil
Retired
Unable to work due to long-standing healthproblems
Other
Trans women
Trans men
Non-binary and gender-diverse
All LGBTI people
Trans women
Non-binary and gender-diverse
Trans men
All LGBTI people
In part-time or temporary paid work
In full-time paid work (including paternity or other temporary leave)
Unemployed
Student, pupil
Retired
Unable to work due to long-standing healthproblems
Other
Trans women
Trans men
Non-binary and gender-diverse
All LGBTI people
Trans women
Non-binary and gender-diverse
Trans men
All LGBTI people
In part-time or temporary paid work
In full-time paid work (including paternity or other temporary leave)
Unemployed
Student, pupil
Retired
Unable to work due to long-standing healthproblems
Other
Figure 1 Which of the following best describes your employment status?
The vast majority of respondents reported that they are currently working or studying. A particular feature of the trans group is the high proportion of those who report being outside the labour force due to long-term health problems. The pattern is the same in all countries and across all three groups of trans people. Among those who belong to another minority, where the largest minority group in the survey is trans people with disabilities, these figures are significantly higher than for those who do not belong to a minority group.
In all countries, the proportion of trans people who are unemployed is high in relation to the LGBTIQ group as a whole. Trans people are also significantly less likely to work full time than the LGBTIQ group in general. Trans men and non-binary people are less likely to work full time than trans women. In some cases, but not all, the figures show that respondents in these groups are more likely to instead work part time. For readability, options where the largest group is less than 7% are summarised as 'Other' in the figures. These options include self-employed; unpaid or voluntary work; fulfilling domestic tasks; compulsory military or civilian service and other, where ‘self-employed’ is the largest group.
Discrimination
Previous international as well as Nordic research shows that trans people are discriminated against in the labour market, both in recruitment processes and in the workplace. Studies reveal severe consequences of discrimination, negative attitudes and microaggressions, including emotional exhaustion, lower work engagement and stress. They also show that trans people do not want to be open about their gender identity for fear that it will negatively affect their career or choose to downplay aspects of their gender identity in environments where they are at risk of discrimination (Eriksson et al., 2022).
The EU LGBTIQ Survey III measures self-perceived discrimination in recruitment and in the workplace through the following questions: ‘In the past 12 months have you ever felt discriminated against due to being LGBTIQ when looking for a job?’ and ‘In the past 12 months have you ever felt discriminated against due to being LGBTIQ when at work?’
Respondents who felt discriminated in the past 12 months when looking for work
Figure 2 In the past 12 months have you ever felt discriminated against due to being LGBTIQ when looking for a job?
Among the trans group as a whole, the experience of being discriminated against in recruitment processes is very common. This is especially true among trans women respondents, 22–33% of whom have experienced discrimination in recruitment processes in the past year. Even among trans men and non-binary/gender-diverse trans respondents, this is a relatively common experience.
Intersectional discrimination leaves some people particularly vulnerable
Among those who state that they also belong to another minority, in addition to being trans, a higher proportion state having experienced discrimination in recruitment. These groups are subject to several forms of discrimination and marginalisation based on, for example, racism, homophobia, and ableism. While the responses vary across countries and groups, similar patterns can be seen throughout. Among respondents belonging to at least one other minority, 4–16% more people in each group report experiencing discrimination in recruitment processes, compared to the trans group as a whole. Previously published findings show that it is common for people in this group not to know exactly on which grounds they are being discriminated against. Discrimination may also occur based on intersections of multiple grounds of discrimination under the law, rather than on the basis of individual grounds of discrimination.
Respondents who felt discriminated in the past 12 months at work
Figure 3 In the past 12 months have you ever felt discriminated against due to being LGBTIQ when at work?
A large proportion of trans people have experienced discrimination in their workplace in the past year. The patterns between the different groups of trans people are relatively similar, although non-binary trans people in Denmark stand out as a group in particular, with over 30% of respondents reporting experiencing workplace discrimination. Discrimination in the workplace is a more common experience among trans people than the LGBTIQ group as a whole.
Among trans people who also belong to another minority, a slightly higher proportion had experienced discrimination than across the groups as a whole. However, trans men who also belong to another minority in Finland stand out in particular, with 39% stating that they had been discriminated against at work in the past year, compared to 22% of trans men overall in Finland.
Reporting discrimination
About 90% of trans women, trans men and non-binary trans respondents in the three Nordic countries stated that they had not reported the most recent incident of discrimination they experienced. Of those who had reported the discrimination, most reported it to their employer, followed by the venue where the discrimination occurred. A smaller proportion reported the incident to their trade union.
Among the large group that did not report discrimination, the most common reasons given were that they felt that nothing would happen as a result, it was not worth the time or that they would not be taken seriously. Multiple responses could be given in answer to these questions. A relatively large group, about a third, said that they did not trust authorities. Between 20 and 25% said they did not know how or where to report discrimination, and an equal number said they were too traumatised, stressed or annoyed to take the incident further.
Negative experiences at work
Many trans people have experienced negative treatment in the workplace, such as negative comments and misgendering. Previous research shows that negative comments and other so-called microaggressions, i.e. subtle negative behaviours, such as looks and comments that reflect lack of understanding or prejudice, can lead to reduced work engagement and workplace stress. This also applies to negative comments and jokes about trans and LGB people in general, not necessarily directed at an individual. Among people who are not open in the workplace, it can also be difficult to challenge disrespectful behaviour and homophobic and transphobic comments for fear of ‘being exposed’ (Lehtonen, 2016).
Respondents who experienced negative comments or conduct at work because of being LGBTI
Figure 4 In the past 5 years have you experienced negative comments or conduct at work because you are LGBTIQ?
The EU LGBTIQ Survey III asked respondents whether they had experienced negative comments or treatment at work in the last five years due to being LGBTIQ. The response options were ‘never’, ‘rarely’, ‘often’ and ‘always’. Here, the proportion of respondents who had experienced negative comments or treatment at work in the last five years has been combined, i.e. all except those who answered ‘never’. A high proportion of respondents have experienced negative experiences among all trans groups. Trans women and non-binary/gender-diverse people stand out in particular, with over 50% of respondents having had these experiences in several cases.
Respondents who experienced a general negative attitude at work against LGBTI
Figure 5 In the past 5 years have you experienced a general negative attitude at work against people because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and/or intersex?
The EU LGBTIQ Survey III examines general negative attitudes towards trans and other LGBTI people. When asked if respondents had experienced a generally negative attitude in the workplace towards people who are LGBTIQ in the last 5 years, a large majority answered yes. Non-binary trans people stand out in particular, with 66–80% of non-binary respondents saying they have experienced negative attitudes towards LGBTQI people at work.
Openness in the workplace
Previous research indicates that there is generally a link between being able to be open in the workplace and well-being and job satisfaction. The association between openness and well-being at work applies to trans people as well as the rest of the LGBTI group. Studies whose findings did not associate openness with positive health outcomes showed an interaction with risks of exposure to discrimination and harassment (Eriksson et al., 2022).
Respondents who have been hiding or disgusing being LGBTI from people at work
Figure 6 In the past 5 years have you hidden or disguised that you are LGBTIQ from people you meet at work?
An overwhelming majority of trans respondents have in some way hidden their trans identity at work. In several of the groups, up to 80% of respondents stated that they had hidden their trans identity in some way. Hiding that one belongs to the LGBTIQ group is also a common experience for the LGBTIQ respondents in general.