The Impact of Career Breaks and Part-time Work on Women's Pension Levels

Based on the Public Employment Service collective agreement 2026 and seven simulated hypothetical employment histories with 26 to 41 years of contributions and varying periods of part-time work, the calculated gross monthly pensions range from 1,686 € to 3,327 €. Whilst the number of contribution years differed by around a third in the baseline scenarios, the pension level varies by around half due to the part-time periods. The calculations show that stable labour market integration is, and remains, central to financial independence during working life and in old age.