Gender Earnings
The gender earnings gap in Germany is large, because many women work part-time.
It is particularly large among the highly educated. 43% of men, but only 11% of
women, with a university degree earn more than twice the median income (OECD, 2012). The
part-time employment rate is particularly high among young women in families with young
children.
In 2013 two thirds of women with children worked 30 hours a week or less (BMAS,
2015). The lack of full-day childcare and schools for young children constrains many women’s
labour market choices. Women who work part-time are also more limited in the choice of job,
reducing their prospects for pay. Low working hours among young women undermines
subsequent career and earnings prospects, even if they move to full-time jobs eventually.
EU Forecast
euf:ba18a:43/nws-01