the increase in inequality driven by higher skill levels was more pronounced for men annex a figure a particularly in belgium finland and spain where the increased share of households with a male member employed in a managerial professional or technical job contributed point to the increase in inequality over the period one possible explanation for why more households with highskilled workers drives inequality higher is the growing tendency of people with similar educationearnings levels to live together assortative mating as described in section in part this may reflect a narrowing in the gender wage gap as a result of increased women s educational attainment female workers today are more likely to have more labour market experience and thus higher earnings than years ago moreover changes in policy parameters such as legislation mandating equal pay may also contribute to reducing the gender gap