According to the Federal Statistical Office, women in Germany earned an average of 18 percent less per hour in 2021 than men.

The difference in earnings between women and men – the so-called unadjusted gender pay gap – thus remained unchanged compared to the previous year.

The Social Association Germany (SoVD) called for more political commitment to fairer pay.

As the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden announced on Monday, women received an average gross hourly wage of EUR 19.12 last year, which was EUR 4.08 less than men (EUR 23.20).

In the previous year, this difference was EUR 4.16.

In eastern Germany, the unadjusted gender pay gap in 2021, at six percent, was significantly smaller than in western Germany (2021: 19 percent, 2020: 20 percent), as in previous years.

However, the pay gap in western Germany has narrowed significantly over the past 15 years: since 2006, the unadjusted gender pay gap has fallen by five percentage points from 24 percent to 19 percent last year.

The gender pay gap is the difference in average gross hourly earnings.

Unadjusted, he generally compares the average earnings of all employees.

According to the statisticians, a good 70 percent of the difference in earnings can be attributed to "structural factors" - such as the fact that women work more often in lower-paid sectors and professions and less often in managerial positions.

They also work part-time and in mini-jobs more often than men and therefore earn less on average per hour.

Mini jobs as the main cause?

The deputy state chairwoman of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) Bavaria, Verena Di Pasquale, said that almost 60 percent of mini-jobbers are women.

Mini jobs are one of the main reasons for the wage gap.

The trade unionist criticized the federal government's plan to increase the mini-job limit to 520 euros, because mini-jobs are a dead end.

"In addition to better pay, we finally need working time models that allow work and life to be better reconciled, as well as more women in management positions," she demanded.

The Bavarian Business Association also called for women to be paved the way to full-time employment.

Reducing taxes that make longer working hours unattractive and better childcare options would help.

Today, two thirds of employed women with children work part-time.

"With a higher and longer employment participation of women, a contribution can also be made to securing skilled workers," said the chairman Bertram Brossardt.

If women and men with comparable qualifications and jobs are compared, the wage gap is lower.

This adjusted gender pay gap is surveyed every four years.

In 2018 it remained at the 2014 value of six percent. In 2010 the difference was seven percent and in 2006 eight percent.