Unequal earnings: Czechia has the EU’s second-highest gender pay gap

Women in Czechia earn on average 18.5 percent less per hour than men, making the country the second-worst in the European Union for the gender pay gap, according to new data from Eurostat. Only Estonia reports a larger difference.

The figures come as overall wages in Czechia continue to rise and approach the CZK 50,000 mark on average. While salaries have grown in real terms over the past year, the gap between men and women’s pay remains significant—and in some sectors, it has widened.

The issue is particularly relevant in light of broader wage trends. Although average incomes are increasing, two-thirds of employees earn below the national average, and income disparities continue to shape household finances across the country.

The gender pay gap in Czechia varies significantly by age, according to the Eurostat data. Among workers under 25, the difference is relatively low at 7.7 percent.

It grows substantially during mid-career years, peaking at 21.6 percent among employees aged 35 to 44 — the period when many people balance career advancement with family responsibilities. The gap narrows again among older workers, falling to 8.2 percent for those aged 65 and above.

Sector differences are even more pronounced. The largest pay gaps are in finance and insurance, where women earn 35.6 percent less than men. The information and communications sector follows with a 28.4 percent gap, while health and social care shows a 24.9 percent difference.

By contrast, the smallest gap is in water supply and waste management, where women earn just 1.3 percent less than men. The construction, transport, and real estate sectors also report relatively low differences.

Economists say several structural factors contribute to the gap. The relatively strong position of industry in Czechia — traditionally dominated by male workers — plays a role. Limited availability of part-time jobs compared with Western Europe is another factor, particularly for parents returning to work after parental leave.

“Some of the explanation lies in the conservative setup of Czech society and the structure of the labour market,” said economist Vít from Investika, as reported by Novinky.cz. He added that industry continues to offer more opportunities to men, which affects overall averages.

The Eurostat data also shows that pay differences tend to increase with age, suggesting that career progression and access to senior roles may differ between men and women. Analysts often describe this pattern as a form of the so-called “glass ceiling.”

Despite the wage disparity, differences in pensions are comparatively low. Among people over 65, women receive pensions that are 9.6 percent lower than men’s — one of the smallest gaps in the EU.

Economist Petr Dufek of Banka Creditas noted that the Czech pension system partially reduces lifetime income differences, as benefits are calculated in a way that narrows disparities between higher and lower earners.

While recent wage growth has improved real incomes overall, the data suggest that gender inequality in pay remains one of the key labour market challenges in Czechia — particularly in higher-paying sectors such as finance and technology.