The biggest financial inequality between men and women is not reflected in salary.
But decades later.

In retirement.

While equal pay is discussed intensively, one crucial point often remains in the background: long-term financial security.

Because anyone who earns less today, works part-time more often or interrupts employment phases automatically builds up less retirement provision. This is exactly where the so-called pension gap occurs.

What is the pension gap?

The pension gap describes the difference between the retirement income of women and men.

In Europe, this difference is around 24-25%.
In Germany, it is often even higher.

This means that women have significantly less financial resources available in old age — often over decades.

Why women get less pensions

The pension gap is no accident. It is caused by structural differences in working life.

1. Lower income

Women earn less on average. The gender pay gap is around 16%.

2. Higher part-time rate

Almost every second woman works part-time; for men, it is only a fraction.

3. Care work

Women take on a significantly larger share of unpaid work:

• childcare
• Caring for loved ones
• household

On average, women invest around 9 hours more per week in care work as men.

4. Purchase interruptions

Parental leave and family obligations are more likely to result in career breaks.

5. Higher life expectancy

On average, women live about 5 years longer — must therefore extend their retirement provision over a longer period of time.

The effects: Less pension, more risk

These factors add up over decades.

A specific example:

• Average 222€ less pension per month
• Over retirement: more than 50,000€ difference

This shows that the pension gap is not an abstract problem — but a very concrete financial disadvantage.

More investment is not enough

There are positive developments:

The proportion of women investing is constantly increasing.
In recent years, even around +9%.

Young women in particular are starting to build up wealth much earlier today.

But:

👉 More investment alone does not compensate for structural disadvantages

Because:

• less income = less savings
• Part-time = less capital buildup
• Interruptions = less continuity

Why traditional retirement planning often doesn't work

Many solutions focus on products:

• ETFs
• insurances
• Yield

The problem lies elsewhere:

👉 Precautionary measures often fail due to implementation

• too complex
• too difficult to understand
• Relevant too late
• Too little integrated into everyday life

The 3-layer model: Why one column is not enough

Retirement planning is based on three components:

1. Statutory pension
2. Company pension scheme (bAV)
3. Private pension

Many rely heavily on the state pension.
In most cases, this is not enough.

For women in particular, it is crucial to use several pillars.

The biggest lever: company pension plans

Occupational pension plans (bAV) are one of the most effective ways to reduce the pension gap.

Why

• Employer participates
• Tax and social security contributions savings
• automatic wealth accumulation
• easy integration via the job

The decisive effect: More in it than you deposit

An example shows the lever:

• 100€ own contribution
  
  • Tax & duty savings
  • 20% employer subsidy

= 220€ monthly savings

In the long term, this can result in:

• cca 220,000€ capital
• cca 638€ monthly supplementary pension

The most important point:

👉 You're not saving alone
👉 Your employer and the state are increasing your contribution

What is decisive now

The pension gap will not be solved by a single product.
But through better structures.

For companies

• Make precautionary measures understandable
• Simplify access
• Actively promote use

For employees

• Understanding existing benefits
• Use employer subsidies
• Start early

conclusion

The pension gap does not only arise in old age.
It is created in everyday life.

Through income, working hours, care work and the lack of use of pension provision.

The good news:
There are effective levers to counteract this.

And one of the strongest is already in an employment relationship.

👉 How much is your employer already paying for your pension?
👉 And how much potential are you currently leaving unused?

Find out now — with a personal pension check.

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