It is now 2024, and men still earn more than women: the salary gap has become even wider. We’ll tell you in advance: this is not a fable.
Salary gap
In 2021 we experienced a ‘historically low’ five percent gender pay gap, and this was very hopeful for the future. It is therefore very disappointing that figures from the National Salary Survey 2023 show that the pay gap has grown again. But what is the percentage of the salary gap now? We’ll tell you: men earn no less than 7.4 percent more than women in the same position with the same number of hours. Why is that, and what factors contribute to this?
Salary increases
Through research by Nyenrode University on behalf of Intermediair, we discovered that the difference in the wages of men and women is because men saw their salaries rise faster. Men earned 16.4 percent more than in 2021, while women improved by 9.1 percent. One of the possible explanations for the salary gap is that men ask for pay increases more often and faster, because they dare to stand up for themselves more. In addition, men are more likely to work in commercial sectors, while women are more likely to work in the non-profit sectors.
In addition to a better salary, men are also more likely to have a company car or a fuel card and they are twice as likely to receive profit sharing and compensation when moving. According to Intermediair’s research, men care more about secondary employment conditions, while women care about the substantive aspect of the work.
Tips for a pay increase
Because we believe that the salary gap should shrink a bit, we have a number of tips for you if you want to ask for a salary increase:
- Prepare well: research what the usual salary is for your position, activities and industry.
- The right time: The right time to discuss salary negotiations is often during the annual appraisal or performance reviews. If you’ve recently made major achievements, it might also be a good time to discuss: this could potentially get you a raise sooner.
- Compromises: Your employer may not immediately agree to the amount you propose. If they give you a raise, it may not be as much as you were betting on, but sometimes they may not give you anything. In that case, ask what you need to do to get a pay increase and work towards it.
- Specific amount: It is useful if you know in advance what you want to earn, so that you are not vague about it. This shows that you have done the necessary research and shows the employer that you have thought it through. Don’t forget to bet high!
