The wage gap in the district is immense and even increased compared to the previous year. What does that say about our society, what are the reasons and what do companies think about it?
Same workload, less money. Women who have a full-time job in the Main-Spessart district earn around EUR 770 less per month than their male colleagues. This is borne out by current figures from the Federal Employment Agency. Accordingly, the average full-time income of women in the Main-Spessart district is currently 2,951 euros per month for men with the same working hours amounting to 3,722 euros. That makes a difference of 21 percent. How can that be and what do the companies in the region say about it?
An inquiry with companies from the region showed that women and men receive the same wages for the same work. For example, Christine Pfeil, Head of Marketing & PR at the Hafenlohrer furniture store Paidi, said: “We take the issue of fairness extremely seriously, which also includes payment that makes no difference between men and women.” In addition, gender also plays no role in the selection of applicants. A large Lohr company argued similarly. “Bosch Rexroth attaches great importance to equal pay,” said the press office. For example, the sun protection manufacturer Marktheidenfeld Warema made it clear that there was no difference between women and men in terms of payment. But with all the equal treatment, the question arises: How do the huge wage differentials in the region come about?
Women generally work in lower paid sectors
“We have to say that wage inequality in Main-Spessart has even increased since 2014,” says Kerstin Vierhock, managing director of the Wrzburg employment agency. At that time there was a wage gap of 730 euros, which has now risen to 770 euros. Vierhock emphasizes that the reasons for this are “diverse and multi-causal”. One problem is that women mainly work in jobs that are generally less well paid, for example in the social sector or in the catering industry. There are also worse opportunities for advancement and explain why women are underrepresented in management positions.
“Women are well educated, but traditional division of labor, part-time work and uneven job evaluation slow them down.”
Birgit Seubert, Equal Opportunities Officer MSP–
Vierhock speaks of an ongoing “gender stereotyped career choice”. Men are predominantly represented in the so-called “MINT subjects”, ie professions from the fields of mathematics, computer science, science and technology, where more money is paid. Vierhock also emphasizes that women in particular would often work in the low-wage sector or part-time. That has to do with the social role model. Accordingly, the man is still the main earner, the woman the pilot. “Usually the woman takes care of the children or cares for older relatives,” said Vierhock.
Wage gap particularly high in MSP
According to Vierhock, social attitudes must change first. “Basically, we have to achieve an equal distribution of family work,” says Vierhock. This means, for example, parental leave, which is not only covered by women. Because of this outdated role model, it would be difficult for many women to seek career opportunities at all.
“Compared to other regions, the wage gap in the Main-Spessart district is very high,” says Vierhock. In Schweinfurt the salary gap was “only” almost 300 euros, in Wrzburg around 400 euros. There, for example, the world of work is shaped by administration, the church, and public service. In Main-Spessart, on the other hand, there is a lot of industry, automotive suppliers and large companies. “More men are active in these wastes, and wages are very good in these industries,” said Vierhock.
What is being done about injustice?
“Women are well educated, but traditional division of labor, part-time work and unequal job evaluation slow down,” says Birgit Seubert, equal opportunities officer for the Main-Spessart district. In order to reconcile family and employment, women would work part-time four times more often than men. 62 percent of employees in mini-jobs are also female. As a result, women would have fewer career opportunities, which helps women earn less than men.
Seubert therefore calls for men to do more care work, for girls to get to know “typically male” occupational fields and courses of study when choosing a career, and for women-typical jobs to be upgraded financially. As an equal opportunities officer, she regularly offers events at which girls get to know science and technology courses as well as technical and craft training occupations in workshops. The feedback from the universities is encouraging “that many participants have opted for a technical degree,” said Seubert. She wants to continue to provide information, for example at Girls Day or on career information days.
Companies are optimistic
“It is important to convey to me that girls in these” male “occupations have good opportunities for training, further education and advancement with good earnings and career opportunities,” says Seubert. And many companies also said on request to strive for more equality. One approach is to get more girls excited about technology.
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