Styria women earn about 40% less pension than men

In Austria’s Styria region, women receive on average 41.2 % lower pensions than men, a gap wider than the national average of 39.4 %. Deputy Governor Manuela Khom (ÖVP) said, “There is still a lot of room for improvement. As long as women earn almost 40 % less in retirement, we cannot be satisfied with what has been achieved.”

Khom proposes a mandatory pension‑splitting system with an “opt‑out” option, automatically transferring a share of the working partner’s pension credits to the caregiving partner during periods of child‑rearing. She added, “Child‑rearing is a shared responsibility.” The region will mark an Equal Pension Day on 2 August, when men have already earned the pension amount women are expected to receive by year‑end. Khom also called for stronger financial education for women.

The proposal aims to address the persistent disparity caused by women’s higher involvement in childcare and elder‑care, which often leads to part‑time work and lower pension accrual.