Switzerland gender pay gap continues to narrow in 2024

The gender pay gap in Switzerland continued to narrow in 2024, according to data from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO). On average, women earned 15.7% less than men, a decrease from 16.2% in 2022 and 18% in 2020.

While more than half of the disparity is attributed to structural factors—such as education levels, years of service, and hierarchical positions—a significant portion remains unexplained. For women with the same structural profile as men, the unexplained wage gap stood at 6.5%, amounting to an average of 640 Swiss francs per month. This unexplained portion has seen its first slight decrease since 2014, falling to 46.9% from 48.2% in 2022.

Disparities vary significantly by sector and demographic. The gap is more pronounced in the private sector (17.2%) compared to the public sector (12.8%), with financial and insurance activities showing gaps as high as 30.6%. The unexplained gap also increases with seniority, reaching 12.4% for senior executives compared to 6.1% for non-managerial employees. Other factors influencing the gap include age and marital status, though the FSO notes that such characteristics cannot be used to justify wage differences under the Equality Act.