Are women more economically active in Germany than France?

Abstract

The employment rate of women in Germany has been rising steadily, and exceeds that of France (66% versus60% in 2010 according to Eurostat). But this observation
must be qualified. The growth in the German rate is due mainly to the increase in part-time work (45% inGermany and 30% in France among working women
aged 15-64), and the full-time equivalent employment rate remains higher in France than in Germany. Frenchwomen are no less present in the labour market than German women, but their pattern of employment isdifferent: they enter the labour market later and leave it earlier, a smaller proportion are in employment, but theywork longer hours, and they more frequently continue working when they have children. Childcare is morewidely available in France than in Germany and working mothers are better accepted. In Germany, there is still awidely held belief that good mothers should take care of their children themselves and not leave them to go out towork. Mothers thus tend to remain confined to a role of secondary wage earner.