The pay gap between men and women is at its narrowest since records began; yet despite the news, business groups say progress is slow.
Official statistics show the gap between women’s median hourly pay and men’s was 12.6 per cent, compared with a gap of 12.8 per cent recorded in April 2006. The median hourly rate for men went up 2.8 per cent to £11.96, while the rate for women increased by 3.1 per cent to £10.46.
And according to the Office of National Statistics, the largest difference was in the South East region, where women’s median pay was 15.9 per cent less than men’s. The smallest gap was in Northern Ireland, at 2.8 per cent.
Commenting on the findings, Dr John Philpott, chief economist at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, said: “It is encouraging that the gender pay gap has narrowed on both a median (falling from 12.8 per cent to 12.6 per cent) and mean average (falling from 17.5 per cent to 17.2 per cent) comparison.
“However, a closer look at the figures suggest no clear trend and, if anything, indicates that progress in narrowing the gap has stalled since the early part of the decade. This strengthens the imperative for both government and employers to worker harder together to promote genuine gender equality in pay.”
Trades Union Congress general secretary, Brendan Barber went further and said: “It is completely unacceptable that despite making great strides at work and in education, women are still being paid 17.2 per cent less than men.”
Calling for mandatory pay audits, said Barber, is the only way forward.
One Response
Move in right direction
This is good news however, the idea of mandation turns me off totally.
S
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