The Digital Gender Divide in Germany: The Role of Preferences and Constraints in Digital Involvement and Wages

Claus Schnabel (), Martin Abraham, Luisa Wieser, Cornelia Niessen and Sara Bergmann ()
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Claus Schnabel: University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
Martin Abraham: University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
Luisa Wieser: FAU, Erlangen Nuremberg
Cornelia Niessen: University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
Sara Bergmann: FAU Erlangen Nuremberg

No 18097, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: This paper investigates the digital gender divide (DGD) in Germany by analyzing gendered patterns of digital technology use in both private and professional contexts, and their consequences for wages. Using data from the GESIS Panel, we construct a Digital Involvement at Work index covering ten technologies to assess both active use and passive exposure. Our results reveal a significant DGD in the workplace: women are consistently less involved with digital technologies at work, even after controlling for education, occupational qualification, and digital affinity. In contrast, private digital use appears more balanced. This suggests that structural constraints—rather than individual preferences—play a key role in shaping the divide. Further, we find that digital involvement is positively associated with individual income, yet it does not close the gender pay gap (GPG). On the contrary, digital involvement yields greater wage returns for men than for women. These findings highlight how gendered patterns of digitalization in the workplace reinforce existing inequalities. We conclude with a discussion of the implications for policy and labor market equity, emphasizing the need for measures that promote equitable digital inclusion.

Keywords: gender; digital involvement; digitalisation; wages; gender pay gap; Germany (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J16 J31 O15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-08
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