Nearly one in five paid employees in Germany worked in the low‑wage sector last year, the University of Duisburg‑Essen announced on Monday. Even with the statutory minimum wage raised to 12 € an hour, around 7.2 million people earned less than two‑thirds of the median earnings.
The risk of poverty is especially acute among low‑wage workers. In 2022, 22.6 % were considered at risk of poverty, compared with 7.3 % of all employed people. In the late 1990s, only 9.3 % of low‑wage workers fell into that category. According to the report, the main factor is not just the wage level but also the amount of hours worked.
Low wages tend to affect particular groups. Minijobbers are especially exposed: almost four out of ten minijobbers earn below the low‑wage threshold. Younger workers, those with lower qualifications, and employees on fixed‑term contracts are also frequently impacted. Women account for 23.5 % of the low‑wage population, while foreign workers represent 28.4 %.