More Women in Permanent Jobs - Equality is Still Far Off - NRW Women Still Face Pay Gaps and Part-Time Work Traps in 2025
Women in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) continue to face significant workplace inequalities, despite progress in employment numbers. A new report highlights persistent pay gaps, limited career opportunities, and uneven distribution of unpaid labour. Trade union DGB NRW is now pushing for reforms to improve conditions for working women and families across the region.
In 2024, women in NRW earned 15% less per hour than men on average, even though 59% held recognised vocational qualifications—higher than the 55% among men. Yet women remain overrepresented in lower-skilled roles and part-time work. They make up 76% of socially insured part-time jobs and over 59% of mini-jobs, which the DGB criticises for offering low wages, no social security, and few training opportunities.
The number of women in socially insured employment in NRW has grown by nearly a third since 2008, reaching around 3.4 million. However, their employment rate still lags at 56%, compared to 65% for men. Nationally, as of June 2025, 16.2 million women held socially insured jobs, but full-time positions dropped by 60,000 from 2024, with part-time work driving overall employment growth.
Outside paid work, women in NRW spend nearly 30 hours a week on household chores and caregiving—almost 10 hours more than men. The DGB points to unreliable childcare as a major barrier, with daycare centres closing for an average of 20.5 operating days per year. To address these challenges, the union proposes flexible working models, such as shorter full-time hours (30 or 32 per week), and 'compatibility guides' in companies to promote family-friendly policies.
Despite overall employment gains, women's part-time rates remain above 50%, compared to around 13-14% for men. The DGB argues that mini-jobs should be abolished and replaced with fairer, more secure employment options to close these gaps.
The DGB's proposals aim to reduce pay disparities, improve career progression, and ease the burden of unpaid labour for women in NRW. With more flexible working hours and better childcare support, the union hopes to create fairer conditions for parents and caregivers. The push for reform comes as women's employment grows but remains concentrated in precarious and part-time roles.
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