In Switzerland, part-time work is widespread. Women in particular often choose reduced workloads in order to reconcile family, career and other obligations. According to the Federal Statistical Office, around 60% of employed women work part-time, while among men it is only 20%.
At first glance, this working model may appear flexible and practical. However, with regard to retirement provision, it carries considerable risks – pension gaps that become clearly noticeable in old age.
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In the picture: Alain Grand, Specialist manager in Pension solutions at Tellco
Facts that warrant attention
- Pension differences: In 2023, the average retirement pension for women was CHF 36,108, while men received CHF 52,488. This corresponds to a gender pension gap of 31.2%. This term describes the imbalance in retirement provision between the pensions of women and men.
- Coordination deduction: In occupational pensions, a fixed deduction of CHF 26,460 is made from income (as of 2025). For part-time employees, this poses a risk. Example: someone working a 50% workload with an annual salary of CHF 40,000 insures only CHF 13,540 – resulting in a correspondingly lower build-up of retirement assets.
- Multiple employment: Those who combine several small jobs are not automatically insured under the BVG. If the entry threshold of currently CHF 22,680 per employment is not reached, there is no insurance obligation – even if the total income exceeds the threshold.
Scope for actione
Part-time work does not necessarily have to become a pension trap. Both employers and employees have options to counteract this. In this way, employees’ pension gaps can be reduced, and financial security in old age can be improved. Which concrete approaches exist is explained by Alain Grand, Specialist manager in Pension solutions at Tellco, in a current article in Finanz und Wirtschaft.