Gender pay gap

“Don’t want chocolate, want equal pay!”

For Equal Pay Day 2024, the urgent demand for income transparency, a revaluation of low-wage sectors and the expansion of childcare are just some of the things that are being called for.

(Bild: Peter Atkins - stock.adobe.com)

Equal Pay Day 2024 falls on February 14, Valentine's Day, of all days, and highlights the difference in income between men and women when they do the same work or work of equal value. And this is still considerable in some cases.

Flowers, chocolates, invitations to dinner: Austria's women can rejoice because they are given plenty of presents on Valentine's Day. In total, the expenditure amounts to around 150 million euros.

However, this does not change the fact that, statistically speaking, women work for free until Valentine's Day. Or vice versa: men only have to start working on February 14 in order to receive the same income as women at the end of the year. 

For Equal Pay Day 2024, the urgent demand for income transparency, an upgrading of low-wage sectors and the expansion of childcare, among other things, is evident.

(Bild: Peter Atkins - stock.adobe.com)

Difference of around 5800 euros per year
The gender pay gap currently stands at 12.4 percent compared to 13 percent in the previous year. That is 45 calendar days that women work unpaid. On average in Austria, this results in a current difference of around 5800 euros per year. Extrapolated over a working life of 40 years, a woman could afford a condominium for this money.

At the same time, the lower income reduces the pension assessment basis. As a result, women's pensions are on average 37 percent or 935 euros lower than men's pensions.

Up to 21.1 percent less pay in Vorarlberg
In Austria, there is a high gender pay gap between women and men compared to other European countries. The figures from Statistics Austria also allow for regional comparisons within Austria, as the actual level of the pay gap depends on the federal state. While the pay gap in Vienna is relatively small at 3.2 percent, there is a gap of 21.1 percent in Vorarlberg.

"Ensure the pay gap is closed"
AK President Renate Anderl: "Flowers and chocolate are nice, but what women really need is fair pay, closing the pay gap and framework conditions that ensure equal opportunities in all areas."