Swiss perspectives in 10 languages

Women turn around educational deficits

Female student
Younger women are more likely than men to have a higher education or university degree © Keystone / Gaetan Bally

Switzerland’s population is becoming increasingly educated. At the same time, younger women are more likely than men to have a higher education or university degree.

Among people aged 65 and over, 16.6% of women and 37.1% of men in Switzerland last year had a higher vocational education or university degree, the Federal Statistical Office saidExternal link on Monday. Among 25- to 34-year-olds the leading genders are reversed, with 54.4% of women and 50.25% of men having such a qualification.

More

The fact that women have made up for educational deficits is particularly clear in the case of university degrees, according to the statistical office. Last year 9.9% of women and 19.55% of men aged 65 and over had a university degree. Among 25- to 34-year-olds the rates were significantly higher at 41.5% for women and 34.95% for men.

However, this doesn’t translate into better salaries for women: Switzerland ranks among the worst European states when it comes to the gender income gap. Women in Switzerland earn 43.2% less than men and draw less pension due to higher rates of part-time work.

More

News

Across a red and white striped police line and a grassy area and in front of grey, concrete buildings can be seen a white police van with yellow and blue stripes. The door to the van is open and four male police officers in navy uniforms and black vests that say ‘cantonal police’ are standing next to the van.

More

Switzerland knife attack leaves six injured

This content was published on A man injured half a dozen people with knives, two of them seriously, before being arrested on Wednesday in northern Switzerland.  

Read more: Switzerland knife attack leaves six injured

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR