As of: March 5, 2024, 8:07 p.m
By: Ulrike Hagen
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The gender pay gap describes the difference in wages per hour worked between men and women.
An expert calls for action against injustice.
Berlin – March is women’s month – in two ways.
There is still very little to celebrate.
While International Women's Day on March 8th is intended to remind us of gender equality, "Equal Pay Day" on March 6th shows that we are still miles - or rather many euros - away from this.
Statistically speaking, the date marks the day of the year until which women in Germany work virtually without pay compared to men - it's a whole 66 days.
The gender pay gap, the wage gap between the earnings of men and women, remains stable at 18 percent.
Inflation regardless, Women’s Day.
Not a day to celebrate: Statistically speaking, March 6th marks the day of the year until which women in Germany work without pay.
The so-called gender pay gap has been constant at 18 percent for years.
© Imago/Pond5 Images
Literally worked for free until March 6th: women continue to earn significantly less than men
The fact that Equal Pay Day falls on March 6th instead of March 7th like last year does not mean that women earn more.
The simple reason: 2024 is a leap year.
The gap has remained unchanged since 2020, the wage gap - despite all the federal government's promises to overcome the gender pay gap in Germany and the Pay Transparency Act - remains huge.
Fewer women are also among the so-called higher earners with a certain income.
The unadjusted gender pay gap, the wage gap between the earnings of men and women, is “only” eight percent for 30-year-olds, but then increases rapidly, according to figures from the Federal Statistical Office: female employees between the ages of 57 and 61 earn alarming amounts on average 27 percent less than men - also a reason why women are much more likely to be at risk of poverty in old age.
And few have any hope that this injustice will change any time soon, recent polls have shown.
Gender Pay Gap: The majority of German employees are dissatisfied with pay
According to the “Work needs Women Report,” which the job exchange Indeed compiled together with the opinion research institute YouGov, 57 percent of women in Germany perceive their pay to be unfair.
But only 13 percent of those surveyed believe that the “gender pay gap” can be overcome in a timely manner.
Closing the gender pay gap: The majority of German women think it will take over 50 years
Worse still: The majority of those surveyed - namely 53 percent - assume that it will take another 50 years before men and women are paid equally.
And despite the gender pay gap currently still at 18 percent, according to the Indeed survey in Germany, 45 percent of all women have never asked for a pay increase.
Many, namely 29 percent, said they simply didn't dare.
Aiming for a promotion is also a pleasant experience for only a few women in Germany (23 percent).
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Gender Pay Gap
The gender pay gap describes the difference in earnings per hour between women and men.
The reasons for this can vary: For example, women work in lower-paying jobs or are less likely to reach leadership positions than men.
Some women receive less from their employers even if their job, educational background and employment history are comparable to those of their male colleagues.
A distinction is made between the adjusted and the unadjusted gender pay gap.
However, the issue of earnings inequality has further dimensions: on the one hand, women participate less frequently in working life than men and also work part-time more often.
This reduces financial opportunities and further increases earnings inequality.
Source: Federal Statistical Office (Destatis)
Gender Pay Gap meets Gen Z: Younger women are more aware of inequality
While only 31 percent of older female employees are aware of the gender pay gap, according to the Indeed survey, almost half (49 percent) of younger workers, such as Generation Z and Millennials (25-34 years old), are aware of the gender pay gap.
Ute Neher, labor market expert at Indeed, comments: “We are observing a generation of young women who have grown up with the awareness of gender-equal pay.”
The shortage of skilled workers, among other things, is forcing companies to rethink their strategies.
This rethinking is crucial to overcoming the structural hurdles that limit women's professional development.
Ute Neher, Senior Recruitment Evangelist at Indeed
The survey also shows that almost half of women in Germany (49 percent) believe that men have better career opportunities.
Childcare and caring for relatives (47 percent) as well as sexism and prejudice (40 percent) are cited as the biggest career obstacles.
About a quarter of women (24 percent) report experiences of harassment in the workplace.
Expert warns: “Unacceptable” – measures from companies and politicians necessary
“The results of our study clearly show that we have to approach on two levels in order to close the gender pay gap,” explains HR expert Neher.
Structural changes in companies and politics are necessary to create more transparency in salaries and consistent implementation of equal pay laws: “It is unacceptable that only 20 percent of job advertisements in Germany contain salary information.”
On the other hand, however, it is up to every single woman to campaign for fair pay: “Our study shows that 83 percent of the requested salary increases are approved in Germany.
Women should therefore have the courage to recognize their own worth and demand appropriate pay.”
There is still a long way to go to close the gender pay gap.
“But I am convinced that we can do it if we all – women, men, companies and politicians – pull together.
Because ultimately we all benefit from a fairer working world,” says Neher.
For the “Work needs Women Report”, Indeed, together with the opinion research institute YouGov, surveyed over 14,600 women between the ages of 18 and 65 in eleven countries, including the USA, Canada, UK, Germany and France.
1,377 of the participants came from Germany.