Overview

• The average annual salary for women in the private sector in 2023 was 21,340 euros, 22% lower than the 27,430 euros earned by men, according to INSEE data.
• At equivalent working hours, women earned 14.2% less than men, and the gap narrows to 3.8% for identical roles within the same organization.
• Women remain underrepresented in the highest-paying roles, comprising only 24% of the top 1% of earners in the private sector and facing barriers to leadership positions.
• The 2025 gender equality index for companies improved slightly to 88.5 out of 100, but only 2% of firms achieved a perfect score, indicating widespread room for improvement.
• Upcoming legislation aligned with an EU directive aims to enhance transparency by mandating salary disclosures in job postings and banning inquiries about prior pay by 2026.