Wage Differences between Women and Men in Austria from 2011 to 2023

We analyse the gender pay gap in Austria in the period from 2011 to 2023 based on data from the microcensus. In 2011, the average gross hourly wage for women was 19.6 percent lower than the average gross hourly wage for men; by 2023, this difference had narrowed to 13.9 percent. The adjusted wage gap also decreased – from 7.8 percent in 2011 to 6.3 percent in 2023. The wage differences are largely due to differences in wage-relevant characteristics such as professional experience, choice of occupation and industry, as well as vertical segregation in the labour market. The narrowing of the wage gap can largely be explained by the equalisation of these characteristics. At the same time, the proportion of unobservable factors that contribute to wage differences – such as systematic differences in wage negotiations or the systematic underpayment of women – has also decreased, albeit to a lesser extent.