This master’s thesis examines the motivational factors influencing women’s decisions to pursue employment in either public or private sector in Slovenia, and how these factors vary according to age and family status. The theoretical framework explores the historical integration of women into the labour market and the intersection of gender stereotypes with employment patterns. It builds on previous research comparing employee motivations across sectors and seeks to connect these findings with gender-specific motivational drivers. The empirical part is based on a quantitative study conducted among employed women. The results show that women in the public sector most frequently cite social responsibility as the most important category of motivational factors, whereas job security and meaningful work are emerging as the most valued individual elements. In contrast, achieving power and authority within the organization was not considered important, which aligns with expectations regarding the feminized nature of the public sector. On the other hand, women in the private sector rated the category of a supportive environment for growth and learning the highest, whereas individual factors such as autonomy and, as in the public sector, job security are considered especially important. Conversely, performing socially useful work and a predefined salary growth plan (factors typically associated with public sector employment) had the least influence on their career decisions. A particularly notable finding is that women with young children also strive for professional advancement, indicating shifting values and needs. The thesis contributes to a deeper understanding of the complexity of women's employment decisions and highlights the importance of an intersectional approach in analysing labour market motivation.
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