Large income gap

Women earn significantly less than men

(Bild: ©doucefleur - stock.adobe.com)

Women in Austria continue to earn significantly less than men. The average gross annual income of all salaried employees in 2021 was 31,407 euros - men earned 37,707 euros and women only 24,309 euros. The difference between the sexes was greatest among salaried employees. In order to earn above the average, women needed a university degree, while a technical college degree was sufficient for men.

As the ACA's income report shows, the number of salaried employees rose by 10.8 percent between 2012 and 2021, from around 4.1 million to 4.5 million people. Compared to 2012, 1.4 percent more women were employed full-time, while the number of men increased by 10.2 percent. However, there was growth in part-time employment in particular, with the number of employment relationships increasing by 14.4 percent for women and 14.9 percent for men.

Gap hardly exists except for civil servants
Women earned less than their male colleagues in all employment groups in 2021. The average gross annual income for blue-collar workers in 2021 was 23,248 euros - with women earning 13,434 euros and men 30,030 euros. Salaried employees earned an average gross salary of 35,302 euros - women received 26,953 euros and men 49,642 euros. Contract staff received an average of 37,770 euros - here the average income for women was 34,134 euros and for men 43,971 euros. Meanwhile, civil servants earned almost the same at 60,974 euros (women) and 61,673 euros (men).

Differences due to part-time work and sectors
The greatest gender differences in income were thus found among white-collar workers. A large part of the differences between blue-collar and white-collar workers can be explained by the high proportion of women in part-time employment. In 2021, around 81% of part-time employees were women, while the proportion of women among full-time employees was 33%.

In addition, earning potential is usually lower in sectors where women are predominantly employed. These include healthcare, accommodation and catering. The sectors with the highest incomes include energy supply, where significantly more men than women were employed.

Even university degrees earn women less money
Men also earned significantly more than women in all educational levels in 2021. Women in full-time employment needed a university or college degree to earn more than the average (€45,522 gross for full-time, year-round employees), while a technical college degree was sufficient for men. The biggest differences in income were between women and men who had completed an apprenticeship (women: 32,905 euros, men: 44,515 euros), closely followed by university graduates. Even if women graduate from university, they earn significantly less than their male colleagues at EUR 54,140 compared to EUR 72,002.

Gap in pensions
There are also still major differences when it comes to pensions. While men receive an average gross annual salary of 29,574 euros, the average gross annual income for women is significantly lower at 18,638 euros.