(Gemini Audio)
(de-news.net) – In 2025, women in Germany continued to earn significantly less per hour than men, with the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) reporting that the average hourly wage of female employees amounted to 22.81 euros. This figure was 4.24 euros below the male average of 27.05 euros, resulting in an unadjusted gender pay gap of 16 percent. The institution emphasized that this level of disparity had remained unchanged compared with the previous year. Persistent regional differences were also observed: in eastern Germany, the margin was calculated at 5 percent, while in the western federal states the gap reached 17 percent, underscoring the uneven distribution of wage inequality across the country.
The gender pay gap is determined in accordance with Eurostat’s standardized definition, which excludes the sectors of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and public administration. When public administration is incorporated into the calculation, the unadjusted wage disparity in 2025 was slightly lower, at 15 percent. This reduction was attributed to the comparatively modest salary differences between men and women in the public sector. Destatis noted that within public administration and education, the gap was only 4 percent, whereas in the private sector it rose to 17 percent. Consequently, the relative wage disparity in private enterprises was more than four times higher than in public service employment, highlighting the structural divergence between the two spheres.
According to Destatis, nearly 60 percent of the overall wage gap could be explained by measurable variables available in the statistical model. Of the total hourly difference of 4.24 euros, 2.53 euros were accounted for by factors such as part‑time employment, occupational sector, and job requirements. Women’s greater prevalence in part‑time positions explained 19 percent of the gap, equivalent to 0.81 euros. Concentration in industries and occupations characterized by lower average pay contributed another 18 percent, or 0.75 euros. Variations in occupational skill levels and job requirements accounted for approximately 13 percent, corresponding to 0.55 euros. These quantifiable elements illustrate how structural labor‑market patterns continue to shape wage outcomes.
The remaining 40 percent of the discrepancy — equivalent to 1.71 euros per hour — could not be explained by the available model. This unexplained portion corresponded to the adjusted gender pay gap of 6 percent. Thus, even when women and men possessed comparable qualifications, employment histories, and occupational profiles, female employees earned on average 6 percent less per hour in 2025. Destatis reported that the adjusted gap was 6 percent in western Germany and 9 percent in eastern Germany. Analysts suggested that the unexplained differences might be smaller if additional data on wage‑relevant factors were available, such as information regarding career interruptions caused by maternity, childbirth, or caregiving responsibilities. For this reason, the adjusted gender pay gap was described as an upper boundary for potential wage discrimination against women.
Destatis emphasized that the unadjusted and adjusted indicators serve distinct analytical purposes. The unadjusted measure reflects average gross hourly earnings without modification, thereby capturing structural disparities and barriers to labor‑market participation. In contrast, the adjusted measure isolates specific explanatory factors and highlights the residual difference that remains after accounting for observable variables. Together, the two indicators provide complementary perspectives: one illustrating the overall extent of wage inequality, and the other clarifying the portion that cannot be explained by measurable characteristics.
