Overview
- Destatis reports about 6.3 million jobs fell below the low-wage line in April 2025, defined as earning under two‑thirds of the median and excluding apprentices.
- Hospitality had the highest concentration of low-wage jobs at 51%, followed by agriculture/forestry/fishing at 45% and arts/entertainment at 36%, with public administration lowest at 2%.
- The median gross hourly wage reached €21.48 in April 2025, up from €20.68 a year earlier, pushing the low-wage threshold up from €13.79 to €14.32.
- Pay at the bottom decile rose 3.5% and the median rose 3.9% from April 2024 to April 2025, outpacing a 1.5% rise at the top decile, while the statutory minimum wage increased 3.3% over the same period.
- Wage inequality remained nearly unchanged as higher earners made 2.95 times the hourly pay of low earners (€39.65 vs €13.46), and the decade-long low-wage share fell from 21% in 2014 to 16% in 2024 with the sharpest drop after the minimum wage rose from €9.82 to €12.00.