The wage gap between men and women in the Czech Republic remains one of the largest in the European Union, according to newly published data from the European statistical office Eurostat.

The figures show that women in the Czech Republic earn on average 18.5 percent less than men, placing the country second worst in the EU for gender pay inequality. Only Estonia records a wider difference, where women earn 18.8 percent less than men.

Across the European Union, the average pay gap stands at 11.1 percent, meaning the Czech figure is significantly higher than the bloc’s overall level.

Some European countries report far smaller differences. In Belgium, the gap is just 0.7 percent, one of the lowest in the EU. Meanwhile, Poland records a difference of 4 percent, while the gap reaches 15.6 percent in Germany and 15.7 percent in Slovakia.

The situation is unique in Luxembourg, where women earn slightly more than men. The country reports a negative pay gap of –0.8 percent, making it the only EU state where male salaries are on average lower.

Private sector shows wider differences

Pay inequality is generally higher in the private sector across the EU. Most countries use transparent salary tables in public administration, which apply equally to men and women and limit differences in pay.

The largest gaps appear in the financial and insurance sector, where Czech women earn 35.6 percent less than their male colleagues.

In some industries across Europe, women actually earn more than men. This is the case in sectors such as water supply, waste management, sanitation services and construction, where a negative pay gap is recorded in 13 EU countries. The Czech Republic, however, is not among them.

Gap grows over time

The difference in pay is usually smaller at the beginning of a career but widens with age. Analysts say this is partly due to career interruptions, which women experience more often than men, particularly during parental leave.

The gap in the Czech Republic has also been increasing in recent years. Data cited by Novinky.cz show that the difference stood at 15.4 percent in 2021, meaning the disparity has grown since then.

At that time, Czech women were earning relatively more compared with women in countries such as Slovakia, Austria, Germany, or Finland.

According to economist Vít Hradil, the Czech labor market still reflects a relatively conservative social structure, where changes in employment patterns happen slowly.

Another factor is the country’s industrial economy, which traditionally employs more men and often offers higher salaries. At the same time, the Czech Republic has fewer part-time job opportunities than many countries in Western and Northern Europe, making it more difficult for women to combine work with childcare.

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