Apparently, the German education system is better tailored to girls than boys. At least the numbers suggest this: Last year, 18% of young men living in Germany did not complete secondary level II education (neither high school diploma nor vocational training). Among young women, only 15% lacked such a qualification.
This is shown by the annual study Studie „Bildung auf einen Blick“, which compares education systems in the 38 OECD countries and several other selected countries. This year's study focuses on educational equity.
Women are ahead in terms of education
Even at higher education levels, women have already surpassed men. The percentage of women with a bachelor's degree in Germany has nearly doubled, reaching 40% among 25- to 34-year-olds, compared to 22% among 55- to 64-year-olds. Among men, only 36% hold a bachelor's degree.
However, women in Germany lag behind in international comparison: the OECD average shows that 47% of women have a bachelor's degree.
Women fare worse in the job market
Despite the fact that women, on average, have better educational qualifications than men, they fare worse in the job market, especially among the less qualified. Only 49% of young women without a secondary level II qualification are employed at all, compared to 74% of men in this category.
And even when they do work, women earn less. On average, they earn only 86% of what their male peers make.
Lower chances without a middle school qualification
The fact that so many young people do not have a secondary level II qualification is alarming, as those without a middle school diploma find it significantly harder to get a job, even during times of skilled labor shortages. Only about two-thirds of 25- to 34-year-olds without a secondary level II qualification are employed in Germany, while 37% are unemployed. In comparison, only 14% of young people with a high school diploma or vocational qualification are unemployed.
Not only is the likelihood of finding a job lower, but so are earning opportunities. Almost half (43%) of young people without a secondary level II qualification earn at most half the median income (which is 43,750 euros gross annually).
Women’s training interests are different
When it comes to fields of study, young women are still significantly less likely to choose STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) than their male peers. Only 21% of female first-year students opt for a STEM subject. Among male students, it is 53%.
In the field of education, it's the opposite: only 4% of men pursue a degree in this area.
This is relevant because STEM fields tend to offer better pay than traditionally female fields. It seems that many more Girls' and Boys' Days are needed to bring about cultural change in Germany.
High costs, low results
In terms of successful education policy, the picture for Germany is not favorable: although Germany invests relatively heavily in education compared to international standards, it lags behind in educational attainment. On average, 16% of young adults in Germany have neither a high school diploma nor vocational training. The OECD average for industrialized countries is only 14% without such a middle-level qualification.
This is particularly surprising given that education spending in Germany is relatively high and continues to rise. The average annual expenditure per student (including universities) in Germany is $17,161, compared to $14,209 in the OECD average.
Germany has also increased its education spending: since 2015, spending on school education has risen by 8%, while the average increase across all OECD countries during the same period was only 1%.
Whether Germany's educational investments are less targeted than elsewhere or whether factors like relatively high immigration and associated language barriers are contributing to this discrepancy is not clarified by the study. What is clear is that the concept of Germany as a land of education needs to be rethought. And: women's lower earnings compared to men are not due to lower qualifications.
Anke Dembowski is a financial journalist and author of various investment fund-related and other financial books. She is also a co-founder of the "Fondsfrauen" network.