EU-wide guidelines on gender-neutral job evaluation and classification - Step-by-step toolkit - Update

Sep 11, 2026

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This step-by-step toolkit updates EU-wide guidance on gender-neutral job evaluation and classification systems to strengthen equal pay for equal work or work of equal value between women and men. It provides practical recommendations, guidance, tools, templates and examples for organisations to support implementation of the Pay Transparency Directive and related Treaty principles. The toolkit is voluntary and illustrative, does not replace legal texts or existing agreements, and is not a legally binding interpretation of EU or national law.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResumes

FormatPDF

Pages152

Reading Time53 min

AccessFree to download

Contents

Who is this toolkit for?

What is a gender-neutral job evaluation and classification system?

Why are gender-neutral job evaluation and classification systems important?

How to conduct a gender-neutral job evaluation and classification

Tool 0. Getting ready: understanding and preventing gender bias

Tool 1. Getting started with your gender-neutral job evaluation and classification

Tool 2. Gathering job information

Tool 3. Conducting a simple job evaluation and classification (for micro-organisations)

Tool 4. Conducting a job evaluation and classification in small and medium-sized organisations

Cite this publication: EC and EIGE (2026), EU-wide guidelines on gender-neutral job evaluation and classificati: Step-by-step toolkit, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2026 © European Commission (EC) and European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), 2026 Reuse is authorised provided the source is acknowledged, the original meaning is not distorted and EIGE is not liable for any damage caused by that use. The reuse policy of EC/EIGE is implemented under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU of 12 December 2011 on the reuse of Commission documents (OJ L 330, 14.12.2011, p. 39, ELI: [https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec/2011/833/oj](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec/2011/833/oj)). Unless otherwise noted, the reuse of this document is authorised under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY 4.0) licence ( [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)). This means that reuse is allowed provided appropriate credit is given and any changes are indicated. For any use or reproduction of elements that are not owned by European Commission/European Institute for Gender Equality, permission may need to be sought directly from the respective rightholders. Cover image generated by Adobe Firefly. PDF ISBN 978-92-9486-316-4 doi:10 . 2839/7400453 MH-01-25-062-EN-N A note for users This toolkit is the update of the previously existing EU-wide guidelines on gender-neutral job evaluation and classification systems (1) . The toolkit was prepared by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) in cooperation with the European Commission, in the context of Article 4 of Directive (EU) 2023/970 to strengthen the application of the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value between men and women through pay transparency and enforcement mechanisms, or the Pay Transparency Directive. It aims to support the practical implementation of the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value between women and men through gender-neutral job evaluation and classification systems. This toolkit is a voluntary and practical resource that provides guidance, recommendations and examples. Using the toolkit can support your efforts to comply with the Pay Transparency Directive and Article 157 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. However, the use of the toolkit alone does not certify or guarantee compliance, as that depends on the context and accuracy of the application of methods presented in this toolkit. The guidance, tools, templates and examples included here are illustrative and are intended to support an understanding of the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value between women and men. They do not intend to replace or override existing tools, regulations, collective agreements or other systems in place that already support organisations and social partners with the implementation of the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value between women and men. Please note that the toolkit is not a legal act, nor is it legally binding on any organisation, and it does not constitute an interpretation of EU or national law. When referring to existing EU legislation, the toolkit does not provide legal advice on its interpretation or implementation. Its content is without prejudice to national legislation, to the interpretation of the Court of Justice of the European Union and the General Court or to guidance provided by the European Commission. Organisations are encouraged to consult their national authorities, social partners and equality bodies for information on their country’s applicable legal and institutional frameworks. (1) For more information, see European Commission (2013). 3 Contents 1. Who is this toolkit for? .....................................................................................................

FAQs

Who is this toolkit for and what does it help organisations do?

The toolkit is designed to guide organisations through practical implementation of gender-neutral job evaluation and classification systems. It helps users apply methods in support of equal pay principles.

What is the toolkit’s purpose regarding the Pay Transparency Directive?

The toolkit supports practical compliance efforts related to the Pay Transparency Directive and the Treaty principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value. It offers guidance, tools, templates and examples.

Is the toolkit legally binding or a substitute for legal advice?

No. The toolkit is voluntary, not a legal act, and does not constitute legal advice. It does not replace regulations, collective agreements, or other existing systems supporting equal pay implementation.

Sep 11, 2026

Upload by Ophelia