Switzerland has climbed two spots in PwC’s 2025 Women in Work Index, now ranking 20th among 33 OECD countries. While this signals progress in workplace gender equality, the data also highlights persistent challenges: more women are employed, yet many remain in part-time roles, and the gender pay gap shows no signs of closing.
More women in the workforce, but full-time employment remains low
Switzerland’s female employment rate has increased from 79.2% to 80.4%, placing it well above the OECD average of 72.7%. This suggests that more women are staying in or entering the workforce. However, the rise in employment does not necessarily translate to equal opportunities.
A key issue is full-time employment: while 78.1% of women in OECD countries work full-time, in Switzerland, the figure remains at just 60.7%. In contrast, 90.5% of men work full-time. This significant gap highlights structural issues that prevent women from accessing full-time positions at the same rate as men—whether due to caregiving responsibilities, workplace culture, or a lack of flexible employment policies.
A stubborn gender pay gap
Despite the increasing number of working women, Switzerland’s gender pay gap remains unchanged at 18%. This figure is well above the OECD average of 13.1%, signaling that progress on equal pay has stalled. The issue is not unique to Switzerland, but countries that have made strides in this area have implemented targeted policies to promote transparency and ensure wage parity.
The persistence of the pay gap raises questions about how effective Switzerland’s current measures are in addressing wage inequality. While companies and policymakers have taken steps to address the issue, the lack of improvement suggests that bolder action is needed.
How Switzerland compares to its neighbors
Switzerland’s ranking in the Women in Work Index places it ahead of its neighboring countries: Germany ranks 21st, France 22nd, Austria 27th, and Italy 30th. However, it still trails behind the top-performing nations, where gender equality is more deeply embedded in economic and social policies.
Iceland leads the ranking, followed by New Zealand, Luxembourg, and Sweden. These countries share a few common factors: strong childcare support, robust parental leave policies (including for fathers), and proactive measures to ensure equal pay. Switzerland’s slower pace of change suggests that without similar policy shifts, it may struggle to close the remaining gender gaps.
Why the pace of change matters
Although Switzerland has made progress, experts warn that the country must act faster to ensure lasting equality in the workforce. The evolving nature of work—driven by automation, digital transformation, and demographic shifts—creates both risks and opportunities. If Switzerland does not accelerate its efforts to close gender gaps, it may fall behind in global competitiveness. At the same time, embracing policies that enable women to participate equally in the workforce could lead to economic gains, increased innovation, and a more inclusive job market.
The road ahead
Switzerland’s improvement in the Women in Work Index is a positive sign, but the numbers show that true gender equality in the workplace is still a long way off. To move beyond incremental progress, Switzerland will need to address systemic barriers—such as access to affordable childcare, more flexible working models, and stronger policies for pay transparency.
The data makes one thing clear: standing still is not an option. Other countries have demonstrated that progress is possible, but only with decisive action. If Switzerland wants to remain competitive and create a truly equal workforce, it must ensure that the momentum does not slow down.
