Three Key Factors Drive Female Employment Gaps Across Industries
According to the findings, the share of female employees is particularly high in sectors with elevated part-time employment rates. The authors attribute this primarily to the fact that women still predominantly assume responsibility for childcare.
Secondly, the proportion of female workers is higher in industries where women hold more leadership positions. This part of the analysis, however, only examines industrial sectors. In organizations with more women in top roles, female employees are more likely to pursue career opportunities, the economists note, while resignation rates among women also tend to be lower.
Thirdly, industries offering higher wages and a greater share of supplemental payments—such as bonuses—also exhibit higher percentages of female employees.
The authors' model suggests these three factors can explain over 90 percent of the variations in female employment rates across industrial sectors. The study's release coincides with a period in which the German government is considering abolishing income tax joint filing for married couples (Ehegattensplitting) for new marriages and eliminating the no-contribution co-insurance of spouses under health and long-term care insurance—measures aimed at encouraging more women to enter the workforce.
Study author Claus Michelsen supports the removal of disincentives that hinder broader labor market participation. "The current joint filing system is an obstacle and reduces work incentives for secondary earners," the economist told Der Spiegel. He also described the no-contribution co-insurance as "a subsidy for non-employment."
Beyond such reforms, economists from the German Economic Institute (VFA) recommend improving childcare infrastructure. They also urge employers to offer flexible working hours and make career pathways more visible to attract and retain more female employees.
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