The gender pay gap reflects inequalities and discrimination in the labour market that mostly affect women. Women earn significantly less than men over their entire careers for complex, often interrelated reasons. These include:
- differences in caring responsibilities
- more women in low skilled and low paid work
- outright discrimination
The current median aggregate gap for part time and full time workers is 18.4%.
The current overall mean gap for full time workers is 14.1%.
At current rates of progress, it will take 100 years to close the gender pay gap.
Progress in closing the gap has stalled – it hasn’t changed in the last three years. There is no guarantee that the gap will close over time – it needs significant action from Government, businesses, and society.
Since 6 April 2017 employers in Britain with more than 250 staff are now required by law to publish figures annually on their own website and on a government website to show their gender pay gap – the difference in pay between the men and women they employ. You can find out what we can do to help you if your pay isn’t fair here.
The Fawcett Society do great work campaigning for equality. They have a page dedicated to closing the gender pay gap.