Trouble faced by working mothers in Switzerland: Unfavorable treatment in the workforce

In Switzerland, a country with laws against gender pay discrimination since 1981, recent investigations by the Bernese Social Research Institute (BSS) on behalf of the Federal Office for Gender Equality (EBG) reveal that the gender pay gap still persists.

The report indicates that while the share of women working full-time declines with age, from 54.1% for women under 30 to 30.3% for those aged 50 and over, the reverse is true for men. The earnings of men increase with the number of hours worked, with advancing age making little difference.

For women aged 50 and over, the gender pay gap stands at 19.7%, a significant disparity. Interestingly, the gap drops to 1.2% for women working under 50% of full-time hours, highlighting the impact of working hours on the pay gap.

The report also reveals that women in non-management roles earn 5.7% less than their male counterparts, a difference that widens to 14.7% for women in senior positions. This suggests that the higher women climb the career ladder, the greater the pay gap.

Parenthood appears to have a different impact on earnings for men and women. Men with children earn 21.4% more than child-free men, while the difference for women is just 6.6%. This disparity is more pronounced among married women, with child-free married women earning 16% less than married men, and married women with children earning 21% less.

The gender pay gap for single people was a modest 1.3% in 2022, suggesting that marital status may play a role in the pay gap. The gap for women under 30 stands at 6.6%, rising to 12.6% for women aged 30-49, and then to 19.7% for women aged 50 and over.

The report notes that nearly half (48.2%) of the gender pay gap remains unexplained, suggesting that discrimination or other unmeasured factors may still be at play. It's worth noting that men work full-time in larger numbers, with 81.7% in the 30-49 age group, dropping to 78.4% for workers aged 50 and over.

In conclusion, while Switzerland has laws in place to prevent gender pay discrimination, the persistent pay gap indicates that more needs to be done to address this issue. The report highlights the need for further investigation into the factors contributing to the pay gap, particularly in light of the findings that suggest discrimination or unmeasured factors may still be at play.