Gender pay gap persists in Czech Republic and Slovakia

Recent labor market data highlights significant gender pay gaps in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In the Czech Republic, a Grafton Recruitment survey shows a national average monthly wage difference of 6,580 CZK between men and women, with the gap reaching nearly 10,000 CZK in Prague. In certain professions, such as experienced financial accountants, the disparity can reach up to 15,644 CZK.

To address these inequities, the Czech government is looking toward the European transparency directive, which aims to provide employees with better access to wage information. Labor Minister Aleš Juchelka noted that the directive provides tools to verify compliance and rectify unjustified differences.

In Slovakia, Eurostat data indicates an unadjusted gender pay gap of 15.7 percent in 2024, which is higher than the EU average of 11.1 percent. This gap tends to widen with age, increasing from 8.7 percent for those under 25 to 18.7 percent for the 35–44 age group. Additionally, the representation of women in scientific research in Slovakia has declined by 6.3 percent compared to 2013, with experts citing challenges such as unstable funding and difficulties returning to careers after parental leave.