Women and retirees as a hidden labor reserve?

There it is again – the call: Germans should work more – more, and above all, more efficiently. The aim is to reduce the high number of part-time workers. The German economy needs more hours worked.

But very few people are likely to do something just because it makes sense economically or socially. That’s why we want to take a closer look at the facts to see what positive aspects the demand for more work holds for us women.

High part-time rate among women
The employment rate of women is significantly lower, and the part-time rate significantly higher, than that of men. As the shortage of skilled workers has become one of the biggest challenges for companies (alongside excessive bureaucracy), the call for higher female labor force participation has grown louder. More precisely: not only for women, but also for retirees.

Here are a few hard facts:

• Women make up around 46% of all employees subject to social security contributions in Germany.
• Average weekly working hours for women: 30.5 hours.
• Percentage of women who earn their main income through their own work: 40.6%.

Women as a key resource in the fight against the skills shortage
But instead of feeling like a stopgap, we should recognize that the desire for more female employment is ultimately a good thing for us women. A job of one's own, with one's own career opportunities and income – these are not only essential for an equal partnership, but also for old-age provision. After all, where does the gender pension gap come from?

"In the last 25 years, the employment rate of women has risen from just under 60% to over 77% in 2023," says the Federal Statistical Office. Well, that’s something! But still, about a quarter of women are not part of the workforce.

Part-time: a career killer
Even among the 75% of women who are employed, career prospects are worse than for men. One serious career obstacle is the high rate of part-time work among women. "Almost half of women in Germany work part-time, while for men it's only around 13%," reports the Federal Statistical Office – and immediately provides the reason: "This is mainly due to outdated gender roles that often lead to an unequal distribution of household and care work between the sexes."

Among mothers, the part-time rate is particularly high:"In Germany, nearly 70% of employed mothers work part-time. In France, the share is less than half that," wrote the FAZ on May 28, 2025.

So what can be done? Outdated gender roles are a tough nut to crack – and it will take time to overcome them.

Choose your partner wisely!
The most important advice for young women: Be careful when choosing a partner!

If a man isn’t willing to help with the household or stay home with a sick child because it doesn’t fit his self-image – let him go! No matter how entertaining or generous he may be – he’s not suited for a practical long-term partnership.

Be strategic in your career choice!
Women should also be selective when it comes to career choices. Every young woman and man today has access to information about which sectors pay well. Starting in June 2026, it will be even more transparent: A new EU directive on pay transparency will require companies to state salary ranges directly in job ads. This should ensure fairer pay structures.

So if young men deliberately choose better-paid professions and women opt for lower-paid ones, it becomes a conscious decision – one each individual makes for themselves.

“The sectors with the highest share of women in socially insured employment are healthcare and social services as well as education. In both sectors, women make up around three-quarters of employees,” says the Federal Statistical Office. Unfortunately, there are few high earners in these fields.There are well-paying niches – but few women work in them.

“In construction (above and below ground), almost 98% of employees in 2023 were men; in IT professions, the male share was over 80%,” according to the statisticians – who also issue a warning: “This puts women at a disadvantage, since traditionally female-dominated professions – e.g. in care, cleaning, or education – tend to be less well-paid.”

Ladies – none of this is surprising to anyone walking through life with open eyes. And while construction may not be appealing to most women: Finance also pays well – especially in sales. And in that field, women are often particularly successful.

(here a link to the best-paid careers for women.)

Overcoming your inner resistance
In practice, many couples decide that the woman should reduce her working hours while the children are small. Many women consciously choose a part-time job – and that’s perfectly valid. But children grow up – and at some point, the question arises: Return to full-time?

This step is often difficult, because beloved routines – like the Wednesday morning walk or Thursday afternoon yoga class – would have to be given up.

Being visible matters for your career
Let’s be honest: Part-time workers have fewer promotion opportunities than full-time employees. Even though some companies offer job-sharing leadership roles – that’s still the exception. At Fondsfrauen, we can work toward making part-time leadership more normal. But until that becomes reality: Those who work full-time and are regularly present at the office have better chances.

Why go to the office at all when home office is more convenient? Simple: Because career success depends not just on performance, but also on visibility. No ill intent – but: The person who recently chatted with a senior executive in the cafeteria is more likely to come to mind during promotions than someone who's been working from home for months.

Gender pay gap – smaller than assumed, but still needs closing
Yes, the gender pay gap still exists. But it's smaller than many think. According to Statista, the average gross hourly wage for women in 2023 was 18% lower than for men.

But: A large portion of this can be explained by known factors – like part-time rates, job choice, shorter tenure, or reduced hours.

After adjusting for these factors, about 6% of the gap remains. So: Two-thirds of the difference is within our own power to change. The final third? That should disappear too – no question.

So maybe the call for more female employment shouldn’t be dismissed as a nuisance. There may be more opportunity in it for us than we think!

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