Women now account for one in five very high earners at big Dutch organisations, up from 15% in 2010, according to new research from the national statistics office CBS.

The CBS looked at companies and organisations with a workforce of at least 500 and studied the composition of the highest earners – the top 0.2%. In total, around 6,600 people were included in the study.

In healthcare, where women fill 84% of the jobs, women accounted for 30% of the highest earners, well above the average, the CBS said.

In construction and other areas where men dominate the workforce, women held just 4% of the best paid jobs.

The CBS said the fact that women are more likely to work part-time has an impact on their earnings potential. Almost all the high earners in the research group worked full time, including 95% of the best paid women.