This is evident from new figures from the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS).
Still a pay gap
So there is still a pay gap. In 2021, women earned an average of €22.84 per hour, while men were paid €25.84 per hour. The difference is mainly due to the skewed male-female ratio in the highest-paid jobs. Where most earn the most, men are mostly at work.
Small progress thanks to narrowing pay gap
It is actually unbelievable that in 2022 we are still faced with a pay gap. Ten years ago, men were paid 18% more on average, so there is progress. But unfortunately we are not there yet. According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, the difference is decreasing because women are increasingly more highly educated.
Bigger difference in annual wages
If you look at the figures for annual wages, the pay gap is also much larger. In 2021, the average annual wage (including special benefits) of women was 36% lower than that of men. According to CBS, two-thirds of this difference is explained by women working fewer hours. Men work an average of 33 hours a week, while women just hit 25 hours. But that does not alter the fact that one third still earn much less than women.
Most women are not economically independent
After some calculations, we already found out that women earn on average € 300,000 (!) less than men during their working lives. So even though the Netherlands is one of the most modern and prosperous countries in the world, our traditional division of roles is still stubborn compared to other countries. Many Dutch women are not economically independent. The chances of your house catching fire are virtually nil, but we all have fire insurance. There is a 40 percent chance that a marriage will end in divorce. Yet many women are not assured of a healthy financial future on their own. That must be different! How? You can read that here.
Are you still bothered by the pay gap? These tips will help you save some extra money each month:
Source: CBS