1. www.oecd.org/eco/surveys/economic-survey-austria.htm
OECD
OECD Economics
OECD ECONOMIC SURVEYS:
AUSTRIA 2015
Gender balance for growth
Vienna, 9 July 2015

2. Growth has stalled since 2012 but is expected
to improve
2

3. The high gender pay gap
3
Source: EUROSTAT
0
5
10
15
20
25
FRA SWE NLD EU 27 DNK CHE DEU AUT
Hourly wage gaps are the highest among comparable countries, 2013

4. Main Findings
o Growth has stalled since 2012 but is expected to improve
o Unemployment is low but rising
o Productivity is weak in most services
o Austria loses ground in some major export markets
4

5. Key policy recommendations
o Continue to repair and strengthen the banking sector
o Reduce the labour tax wedge for low income earners
o Increase effective retirement ages
o Reduce barriers to competition in services
o Encourage municipal mergers and increase the tax autonomy of sub-
central governments
5

6. Well-being is high but work-life balances could
be improved
6

7. 7
Unemployment is low but rising

8. Export performance has suffered
8

9. Unemployment has particularly affected
certain groups
9

10. Older workers still retire early
10

11. 11
Taxation still hurts low-income work
1. Single individual without children at the 67% income level of the average worker. Includes payroll taxes where applicable.
Source: Calculations based on marginal rates on regular instalments as of April 2015 as communicated by the Austrian
government; and OECD Taxing Wages database.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Income tax plus employee and employer social security contributions, 2014 ¹
Employer SSC Employee SSC Income tax
.
After tax reform as of 1st
January 2016
As a % of labour costs

12. Barriers to competition in services are high
12
Reviving labour productivity: strengthening the real sector

13. Banks should be strengthened
13

14. 14
Fiscal federal reforms are needed

15. Fostering Gender Equality

16. Gender roles diverge through the life cycle
o The separation of roles deepens after the birth of a first child
o The Austrian gender role model is backed by existing institutions
o Arrangements come under growing pressure amid very weak work-life balances
o More gender equality would improve potential growth by fostering labour force
participation and human capital
16

17. How to foster gender equality
o Foster awareness and evidence on persisting gender gaps, policies and
outcomes
o Spur investment in high quality child care facilities
o Reduce taxation of move from marginal and part-time to full-time work
o Create unique childcare allowance account with a large part reserved to
exclusive use of fathers
o Develop more family-friendly workplaces in the private sector, supported by
the government and social partners
17

18. Gender inequality is high in international
comparison
18

19. Educational choices vary by gender
19

20. 20
Large gender gaps in employment quality

21. A widening pay gap
21

22. Women entrepreneurs run smaller firms
22

23. 23
Distribution of family tasks is uneven

24. 24
Gender gaps deepen in families with children

25. 25
Family benefits do not encourage work

26. 26
Child care infrastructure relies on part-time working
mothers

27. 27
Workplaces are less friendly for full-time working
parents

28. 28
Growth would be boosted by more gender equality