Quality of employment
- Safety at work and
gender equality
Dimension 1: Safety at work and gender equality
- Information on Dimension 1
- Fatal accidents at work
- Non-fatal accidents at work
- Mental strain at work
- Physical strain at work
- Participation of women in working life
- Participation of women in economic activity by occupations
- Women in managerial occupations
- Gender Pay Gap
Information on Dimension 1
Safety at work and gender equality
Safety and ethics of employment are fundamental aspects of quality of employment. Physical well being as well as a fair treatment are laid down in the international labour conventions and subject to regulations in many countries.
The indicators of the dimension 1 provide information on accidents and conditions at work as well as unfair treatment of certain groups of employed persons. In particular, the dimension focuses on the equal treatment of men and women or of Germans and foreigners.
Fatal accidents at work
Rates of accidents at work show the number of accidents at work per 100,000 persons in employment. Figures represented are the number of fatal accidents at work. The less often accidents at work occur, the better safety at work is ensured. The risk of accidents differs between economic branches.
Fatal accidents at work occurring less and less often
In 2013, 1.0 in 100,000 persons in employment were victims of fatal accidents at work. That is a marked decrease from 1996 when the figure had been almost four fatal accidents.
97% of people killed in accidents are men
Fatal accidents were quite irregularly distributed between the sexes: 97% of fatal accidents affected men.This is mainly because men work more often in economic branches with a higher risk of accidents. Fatal accidents at work occurred most often in the branches of water supply; sewerage and waste management, mining and quarrying as well as construction.
| Year | Total |
|---|---|
| Source: European Statistics on Accidents at Work (ESAW). | |
| 1994 | 3.7 |
| 1995 | 3.0 |
| 1996 | 3.5 |
| 1997 | 2.7 |
| 1998 | 2.2 |
| 1999 | 2.4 |
| 2000 | 2.1 |
| 2001 | 2.0 |
| 2002 | 2.5 |
| 2003 | 2.3 |
| 2004 | 2.2 |
| 2005 | 1.8 |
| 2006 | 2.1 |
| 2007 | 1.8 |
| 2008 | 1.6 |
| 2009 | 1.1 |
| 2010 | 1.2 |
| 2011 | 1.2 |
| 2012 | 1,2 |
| 2013 | 1,0 |
Information on the Indicator
Description or definition:
Incident rate of fatal accidents at work per 100,000 persons in employment.
A fatal accident is an accident that leads to the death of the victim within one year after the accident.t.
Source
European Statistics on Accidents at Work (ESAW).
Additional information: The results are based on reports of the statutory accident insurance.
Information for interpretation:
Possible time series break in 2008 due to the introduction of the international classification of economic activities (NACE Revision 2).
For more information please refer to:
Eurostat (Statistische Amt der Europäischen Union), Health and safety at work.
Eurostat (Detailed statistics on the EU and candidate countries), Accidents at work.
Non-fatal accidents at work
Rates of accidents at work show the number of accidents at work per 100,000 persons in employment. Figures represented are the total number of accidents at work to the extent that they entail the loss of more than three working days.
The less often accidents at work occur, the better safety at work is ensured. The risk of accidents differs between economic branches.
Decrease in non-fatal accidents
Out of 100,000 persons in employment, about 1,900 people (1.9%) had a non-fatal accident at work in Germany in 2013. These figures, too, have decreased since the early 1990s. In non-fatal accidents, too, men were more often affected than women. 1,000 accidents occurred per 100,000 women in employment, while for men the figure was 2,700 accidents.
Construction workers most often affected
The economic branch of construction was most often affected by accidents in 2013 (4,600 accidents per 100,000 persons in employment). In the branch of water supply, sewerage, waste management and remadiation activities, too, accidents at work occurred relatively often (4,500 per 100,000 persons in employment).
Year | Total | thereof | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Female | Male | ||
| Source: European Statistics on Accidents at Work (ESAW). | |||
| 1994 | 5,583 | 2,165 | 7,513 |
| 1995 | 5,249 | 2,089 | 7,027 |
| 1996 | 5,098 | 2,176 | 6,772 |
| 1997 | 5,021 | 2,110 | 6,685 |
| 1998 | 4,958 | 2,123 | 6,578 |
| 1999 | 4,908 | 2,109 | 6,539 |
| 2000 | 4,757 | 2,105 | 6,320 |
| 2001 | 4,380 | 2,002 | 5,827 |
| 2002 | 4,082 | 1,844 | 5,491 |
| 2003 | 3,674 | 1,596 | 4,935 |
| 2004 | 3,618 | 1,644 | 4,861 |
| 2005 | 3,233 | 1,453 | 4,306 |
| 2006 | 3,276 | 1,438 | 4,400 |
| 2007 | 3,125 | 1,354 | 4,199 |
| 2008 | 2,437 | 1,171 | 3,512 |
| 2009 | 1,856 | 1,000 | 2,526 |
| 2010 | 1,976 | 1,023 | 2,807 |
| 2011 | 2,058 | 1,004 | 3,016 |
| 2012 | 1,956 | 998 | 2,821 |
| 2013 | 1,900 | 1,010 | 2,719 |
Information on the Indicator
Description or definition:
Incident rate of non-fatal accidents at work per 100,000 persons in employment.
A non-fatal accident is an accident that leads to absence from work for at least 3 days.
Source:
European Statistics on Accidents at Work (ESAW).
Additional information: The results are based on reports of the statutory accident insurance.
Information for interpretation:
Possible time series break in 2008 due to the introduction of the international classification of economic activities (NACE Revision 2).
For more information please refer to:
Eurostat (Statistische Amt der Europäischen Union), Health and safety at work.
Eurostat (Detailed statistics on the EU and candidate countries), Accidents at work.
Mental strain at work
What is the proportion of persons in employment who are exposed to mental strain at work? The calculation covers all persons in employment who felt they had health problems during the last twelve months prior to the survey. The data are based on the respondents’ self-assessment but not on medical diagnoses.
Health risks at work are not only a matter of accidents. The job itself may also be perceived as physical or mental strain.
Mental strain marginally lower frequent then physical strain
In 2013, 16% of the persons in employment indicated to be affected by mental risks. Factors thought to trigger such strain are time and work pressure (15%), mobbing or harassment at work (just under 1%) is comparatively playing a minor role.
| Age from ... to ... years | 2013 |
|---|---|
Source: Labour Force Survey (Ad hoc module, 2013). / = No response, because numerical value is not reliable enough | |
| 15 – 24 | 6.8 |
| 25 – 34 | 15.6 |
| 35 – 44 | 17.0 |
| 45 – 54 | 17.9 |
| 55 – 64 | 15.2 |
| 65 and older | / |
| Total | 15.3 |
Information on the Indicator
Description or definition:
Percentage of employees (aged 15 years and up) who are exposed to mental stress due to work load and time pressure in all persons in employment (over 15 years).
Stress is present if respondents have indicated “time pressure and work overload”. Beyond that, psychological hazard meansthreat of violence, mobbing and harassment at work.
Source
Labour Force Survey (ad hoc module 2013).
Information for interpretation:
The results are based on a self-assessment of the respondents.
In the last few years, the methodology of the labour force survey has been continuously improved in terms of employment status coverage. Therefore comparisons over time are partly limited. Methodological changes affecting the results were performed especially in 2005 and, more currently, for the years from 2011. Consequently, the results for those years can be compared with the results for previous years to a limited extent only.
For more information please refer to the quality reports and information on methods: Quality reports and Methods (only in German).
Physical strain at work
What is the proportion of persons in employment who are exposed to physical strain at work? Physical health risk factors are for example hazards for the respiratory system, eyes, ears and the musculoskeletal system. The calculation covers all persons in employment who felt they had had health problems during the last twelve months prior to the survey. The data are based on the respondents’ self-assessment but not on medical diagnoses.
Health risks at work are not only a matter of accidents. The job itself may also be perceived as physical or mental strain and lead to health problems.
24% are exposed to physical strain at work
In 2013 one quarter of the employed persons felt under physical strain at work. Men were more often exposed to physical hazards than women. 26 in 100 men indicated to be under physical strain, while 22 in 100 women were affected.
| Type of physical strain | Total | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source: Labour Force Survey (ad hoc module 2013). | |||
| Physical exposition to any physical strain | 24.4 | 22.2 | 26.3 |
| Mainly exposition to chemicals, dusts, fumes, smoke or gases | 2.5 | 1.5 | 3.3 |
| Mainly exposition to noise or vibration | 1.6 | 1.0 | 2.2 |
| Mainly exposition to difficult work postures | 12.4 | 13.5 | 11.5 |
| Mainly exposition to handling of heavy loads | 4.6 | 3.5 | 5.5 |
| Mainly exposition to risk of accidents | 1.5 | 0.8 | 2.1 |
| Mainly exposition to stressful activities for eyes and eyesight | 1.8 | 1.9 | 1.8 |
The exposure to hazards is most often due to "difficult postures” (12 %) and “handling of heavy loads" (5 %). Further risks occur through working in an environment with “noise or vibration" (2 %) and when workers are exposed to "dust, smoke, chemicals, fumes and gases" at work which is true for about 3 %. Approximately 2 % of respondents indicate to be exposed to "stressful activities for eyes and eyesight".
Employed persons in agriculture, fishery and construction were and crafts affected most often to physical strain at work (about 40 %). Also in industry occupations the exposure to hazards occurred with 30 % above average. In contrast, People with office jobs in the financial- and insurance activities sector were not so often affected. But also in this sector at least12 % felt exposed to physical risk factors.
Information on the Indicator
Description or definition:
Percentage of employees (over 15 years) who report an exposition to physical strain at work in all persons in employment (over 15 years)
Physical strain is given by at least one of the following answers:
- mainly chemicals, dust, vapours, smoke or gases
- mainly noise and vibration
- mainly difficult body postures
- mainly to handling of heavy loads
- mainly danger of accidents.
- mainly to stressful activities for eyes and eyesight
Source
Labour Force Survey, Ad hoc module 2013
Information for interpretation:
In the last few years, the methodology of the labour force survey has been continuously improved in terms of employment status coverage. Therefore comparisons over time are partly limited. Methodological changes affecting the results were performed especially in 2005 and, more currently, for the years from 2011. Consequently, the results for those years can be compared with the results for previous years to a limited extent only.
For more information please refer to the quality reports and information on methods: Quality reports und Methods (only in German).
Participation of women in working life
Women are not engaged in economic activity to the same extent as men. The share of women in all persons in employment shows how often women are engaged in gainful activity in comparison to their proportion of the population. The indicator does not contain any information on the type and extent of the activity performed.
There were 47 women in 100 persons in gainful employment in 2015. Compared with their share in the total population (51%), women were still underrepresented in economic life in Germany.
Difference between women and men decreasing
The difference in participation in economic activity between women and men has markedly decreased since the 1990s. In 1995 the share of women was 42% and increased to 47% in 2015. In the last three years, however, the share increased only slightly (by 0.1 percentage points).
| Subject of evidence | 1995 | 2005 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source: Labour Force Survey. | |||
| Total | 42.2 | 45.1 | 46.6 |
| Full-time/Part-time | |||
| Full-time | 33.4 | 33.4 | 34.1 |
| Part-time | 87.4 | 82.8 | 79.0 |
| Professional status | |||
| Self-employed with staff | 21.3 | 24.1 | 25.3 |
| Solo self-employed | 32.5 | 34.8 | 38.0 |
| Employee | 43. 3 | 46.6 | 48.2 |
| Family workers | 82.1 | 75.8 | 67.8 |
Women aged 55 or over catching up most quickly
When comparing 1995 with 2015, women aged 55 to 64 years caught up most quickly. The proportion of women in employment in that age group rose by 12 percentage points from 36% to 47% and achieved almost the level of the total population. What is compared here is different birth cohorts, for example, the women aged 55 to 64 years in 2015 with those aged 55 to 64 years in 1995.
Regarding younger women, fewer intense changes and increases are observed over time, because women of younger birth cohorts have for a long time been much more often employed than older cohorts. In terms of women aged under 25 years, the female share of all persons in employment even decreased slightly compared with 1995.
Information on the Indicator
Description or definition:
Percentage of employed women (over 15 years) in all persons in employment (over 15 years).
Source
Labour Force Survey.
Information for interpretation:
In the last few years, the methodology of the labour force survey has been continuously improved in terms of employment status coverage. Therefore comparisons over time are partly limited. Methodological changes affecting the results were performed especially in 2005 and, more currently, for the years from 2011. Consequently, the results for those years can be compared with the results for previous years to a limited extent only.
In the context of the current change, extrapolation has been based on the key population figures rolled forward from the 2011 Census conducted with reference day 9th May 2011, and the results for the period 2011-2013 have been revised.
For more information please refer to the quality reports and information on methods: Quality reports and Methods (only in German).
Participation of women in economic activity by occupations
What is the proportion of women in specific occupational groups? Differences in the female share may indicate both the discrimination of women in specific occupational groups and different preferences when choosing an occupation. Even though the share of women in all persons in employment has markedly increased, women still often choose their occupation within a limited range of activities.
The percentages of women in the various occupational groups have not changed much since the early 1990s. Choosing typical female or male occupations frequently involves differences in earnings and careers.
Women are found most often in service and office jobs
In office and service jobs, women were clearly overrepresented in 2015. Two thirds of all persons employees were women. With employed persons in service occupations women with a portion of 63% were represented.
Men dominating in crafts and industry
Women were strongly underrepresented in crafts as well as in industry and agriculture. Only 11% of the employed persons in craft occupations were. Works in the industry (e.g. operating of well as assemby works) were carried out only to 14% by women. In terms of the qulified employees in the agriculture the women's was a fifth (19%). The womens percentage lay with just one fifth (19%). While the womens percentage has increased in the craft in last two decades about just 2 percent points, the portion has sunk in industrail occoupations since 1995 of from 16% to 14%.
Information on the Indicator
Description or definition:
Percentage of women and men in economic activity (over 15 years) by occupation (ISCO major groups) in all persons in employment (over 15 years).
ISCO is the International Standard Classification of Occupations.
Source
Labour Force Survey
Information for interpretation:
In the last few years, the methodology of the labour force survey has been continuously improved in terms of employment status coverage. Therefore comparisons over time are partly limited. Methodological changes affecting the results were performed especially in 2005 and, more currently, for the years from 2011. Consequently, the results for those years can be compared with the results for previous years to a limited extent only.
In the context of the current change, extrapolation has been based on the key population figures rolled forward from the 2011 Census conducted with reference day 9th May 2011, and the results for the period 2011-2013 have been revised.
A break in the time series may be visible in 2012 due to the introduction of the new International Classification of Occupations (ISCO-08).
The information on craft and related trades workers refers to the 7th major group of the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO). The craft and related occupations differ from the occupations of the German Handicrafts Regulation Act.
For more information please refer to: Quality reports and Methods (only in German).
Women in managerial occupations
What is the proportion of women in managerial positions? Managerial positions include managers of small enterprises, corporate managers and senior officials.
Even though the percentage of women in all persons in employment has markedly increased, women still often choose their occupation within a limited range of activities. All together, the percentages of women in the various occupational groups have not changed much since the early 1990s. Choosing typical female or male occupations frequently involves differences in earnings and careers.
Only one in three managers is a woman
Less than one in three legislators, senior officials and managers (29.0%) was female in 2015. This proportion has not changed much (+0.7 percentage points) since 2012, when the current classification was introduced. The proportion of female legislators, senior officials and managers increased from 26% in 1992 to 30% in 2011. The values have only a limited comparability with the current results.
Managerial positions include directors and managers in trade, production and service activities.
| Age from ... to ... years | 2015 |
|---|---|
1 Managerial occupations = employed in ISCO-major group 1. Source: Labour Force Survey. / = No response, because numerical value is not reliable enough | |
| 15 to 24 | 37.9 |
| 25 to 34 | 35.8 |
| 25 to 64 | 29.3 |
| 35 to 44 | 28.7 |
| 45 to 54 | 27.9 |
| 55 to 64 | 28.8 |
| 65 to 74 | 24.3 |
| 75 and older | / |
More women in academic occupations
The differences between men and women were much smaller among professionals such as physicians, legal professionals, teachers or social scientists (ISCO group 2). There the proportion of women was 45% in 2015. Compared to legislators, senior officials and managers female professionals have increased by nearly 30% since the 1990s.
Information on the Indicator
Description or definition:
Percentage of women in all gainful employed persons (over 15 years) by occupation (ISCO major groups 1 and 2).
ISCO is the International Standard Classification of Occupations.
Source
Labour Force Survey.
Information for interpretation:
A break in the time series may be visible in 2012 dure to the introduction of the new International Classification of Occupations (ISCO-08).
Compared to other sources - depending on source - different classifications terms of executives and graduate professionals are possible.
In the last few years, the methodology of the labour force survey has been continuously improved in terms of employment status coverage. Therefore comparisons over time are partly limited. Methodological changes affecting the results were performed especially in 2005 and, more currently, for the years from 2011. Consequently, the results for those years can be compared with the results for previous years to a limited extent only.
In the context of the current change, extrapolation has been based on the key population figures rolled forward from the 2011 Census conducted with reference day 9th May 2011, and the results for the period 2011 - 2013 have been revised.
For more information please refer to the quality reports and information on methods: Quality reports and Methods (only in German).
Gender Pay Gap
The gender pay gap is defined as the difference between the average gross hourly earnings of men and women expressed as a percentage of the average gross hourly earnings of men (without special payments).
Persons employed in agriculture and public service or enterprises with less than ten workers are not included.
The pay gap between men and women is a sign of a lack of equal treatment. It is however based on many causes. Women and men differ in working lives and in the choice of occupational sectors. In many cases, this leads to different careers and to earnings gaps.
Women earn 21% less
The average gross hourly earnings of women were by 21% lower than the earnings of men in 2015. The differences in western Germany (and Berlin), amounting to 23%, were markedly larger than those in the East (8%).
Gender pay gap constant for years
Since 2002, the earnings gap between women and men has been nearly constant. Hence the Federal Government’s target to reduce the pay gap to 15% by 2010 was clearly failed.
Men earn more than women in every economic branch
In 2015 the gender pay gap differed considerably between economic branches. The largest difference was discovered on "professional, scientific and technical activities" (32%) followed by "financial and insurance activities" (30%), "manufacturing" (25%), "trade" as well as the sector "information and communication" (24% each). The earnings gaps were also with relative high level in the branches of health and social work activities (23%), where women traditionally are found more often than men.
In the branches "water supply, sewerage and waste management and remediation activities" (1%) as well as "transport and storage" (5%) gender pay gap has comparative low turned out. Certainly there are only a few of number of women employed.
There was not only one branch of economic activity where women earned more than men.
| Year | Germany | Former territory of the Federal Republic of Germany | New Länder |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Source: Structure of Earnings Survey 2006; | |||
| 2006 | 23 | 24 | 6 |
| 2007 | 23 | 24 | 6 |
| 2008 | 23 | 24 | 6 |
| 2009 | 23 | 24 | 6 |
| 2010 | 22 | 24 | 7 |
| 2011 | 22 | 24 | 7 |
| 2012 | 22 | 24 | 8 |
| 2013 | 22 | 23 | 8 |
| 2014 | 22 | 23 | 9 |
| 2015 | 21 | 23 | 8 |
Information on the Indicator
Description or definition:
Percentage difference of the average hourly gross earnings of men and women, proportionately on the average hourly gross earnings of men.
Source
Structure of Earnings Survey and quarterly earnings survey.
Information for interpretation:
When interpreting the values, it should be taken into account, that they refer to the unadjusted gender pay gap. On that basis, it is not possible, to derive information on the difference in earnings between female and male persons employed with the same occupations, comparable activities and equivalent levels of qualification.
The unadjusted gender pay gap (GPG) is calculated for all NACE groups with exception of "agriculture and forestry, fishery", "public administration", "private households" and "extra-territorial organizations", as well as in all enterprises with at least 10 employees.
The population consists of all employees with no age restriction or restriction of the number of hours. Part-time employees are included.
The hourly gross wage (with use of the arithmetic mean) includes paid overtime and excludes extraordinary payments.