The gender gap in pension has been found to be more than double that in pay , according to a report by human resources consultancy Mercer . “Companies should review their benefits plans and communications through a gender lens to ensure they address the specific issues and needs of the female workforce.” The study found that women in the European Union ( EU ) save 40 % less on average for their pensions than men , despite earning just 16 % less . Half of European countries have gender pension gaps of at least 30 % . Factors contributing to the disparity are believed to be the lower participation rate of women in the workplace , part - time work , career breaks , lack of education and risk aversion .
The gender gap in pension has been found to be more than double that in pay , according to a report by human resources consultancy Mercer . The study found that women in the European Union ( EU ) save 40 % less on average for their pensions than men , despite earning just 16 % less . Half of European countries have gender pension gaps of at least 30 % . Factors contributing to the disparity are believed to be the lower participation rate of women in the workplace , part - time work , career breaks , lack of education and risk aversion .