Employment with social security contributions has grown substantially during the past ten years, by almost 18 percent to 34.4 million employees according to the most recent figures. Women have also benefited from this increase, with their employment having risen by 19 percent to 16 million since 2012. The employment of men has grown by 17 percent to 18.5 million in the same period. 

The employment rate, which is to say the proportion of people in employment with social security contributions aged from 15 up to the standard retirement age, rose from 51.2 in 2012 to 59.2 percent in 2022. This means that almost 60 percent of all women in Germany work in a job subject to social security contributions. The employment rate for women continues to be substantially lower than the rate for men, however. This is at 65.9 percent. This applies to the vast majority of regions in Germany. 

There are substantial regional differences in the proportion of women in employment, however: two thirds of women in Saxony who are fit for work are in employment with social security contributions, but only just over half of women in Bremen. Overall, the employment rate of East German women, at 62.7 percent, is substantially above the rate for women in West Germany (58.4 percent).

Increase in employment due especially to part-time work

The growth in employment of women is primarily attributable to part-time work. This has risen by 33 percent in the last ten years to 7.9 million, while the rise in full-time women employees was only 8 percent.

Overall, 49.6 percent of all women in employment with social security contributions work part-time. For men, the figure is only just under 13 percent. “On the one hand, in Germany, we have one of the highest rates of  labour market participation for women, in comparison with other European countries. On the other hand, every second woman who is employed works part-time. At the same time, many women working part-time would very much like to increase their working hours”, said Andrea Nahles, Director of the BA. Women often limit their working hours in order to look after children or care for relatives. “Improved care services, but especially also more flexible care times, can benefit everyone, making it possible for both parents to arrange their care work and paid employment to suit their life situation and enabling women who want to increase their working hours to do so. The labour potential of women on the labour market is undoubtedly an indispensable lever for securing skilled personnel.”

Women continue to earn less and are more rarely managers

Men continue to earn more on average than women, with 3,649 euros compared to 3,276 euros. At the same time, the gap is narrowing in small increments. “When you consider that the first Equal Pay Day for Germany in 2009 was calculated to be 20th March and this year falls on 7th March, then we are moving in the right direction, but we still have a long way to go. The same applies to women in management positions”, added Nahles. Because although half of those employed are female, women continue to be under-represented in supervisory and management positions – included with the same qualifications. Only 545,000 or 28 percent of employees with supervisory and management roles are female.