income
The new minimum wage in particular helps women and East Germans
The Federal Statistical Office has calculated, which could bring the two -stage increase in the statutory minimum wage.
The decided two -stage increase in the statutory minimum wage will particularly benefit employees in the eastern federal states. The Federal Statistical Office estimates this based on the wage statistics from April 2024.
At that time there were around 6.6 million jobs that were below the minimum wage of 13.90 euros per hour, which should apply from January 1, 2026. If wages rise to the new level, the amount of earnings of the approximately 6.6 million employees climbs by 6 percent or 400 million euros.
More jobs in the second stage affected
If the minimum wage then increases again to 14.60 euros on January 1, 2027, there is another plus for around 8.3 million jobs by around 4 percent or 430 million euros, the statisticians calculated as maximum values. In reality, the increases at both levels can be somewhat lower, because in the meantime wage increases have not been taken into account in the model since April 2024.
Women and people in East Germany tend to benefit more often from the increases of the statutory minimum wage. This is because they are particularly strongly represented in the lower wage groups. At the first stage of raising, 20 percent of women and also 20 percent of all employees in East Germany would have to receive wage increases. It is only 14 percent for men and 16 percent in the west. Significant cost increases are for the hospitality industry, where 56 percent of employees expect a wage thrust.
dpa
Source: Stern
