Inactivity is somew'hat less widespread among women aged 40 and over in the second group’s Eastern European countries (Lithuania, Poland and Slovenia) than in the Southern European ones (Portugal, Spain and Greece). Unemployment is nevertheless high in those countries and seems frequently to result in early retirement. Figure 4.2 shows high rates of inactivity only among younger w'omen, while most of those aged 40 and over work full-time. As a consequence, the gender gap in w'orking hours is narrow in all age brackets in the active population (Figure 4.3, left-hand panel). As for the population of working age, the gender gap in working hours is significantly narrower among older age groups, as many women have swdtched from inactivity to full-time work (Figure 4.3, right-hand panel).