The gender pay gap in the UK remains significantly higher than in many European countries, with women earning far less than their male counterparts. In fact, the gap is more than twice that of France and Spain and also sits above the EU and OECD averages.
A new academic study suggests that the gap has been underestimated for decades, with official data missing about one percentage point. While this may appear small, it carries weight, as it shows the scale of inequality has been consistently understated in government reporting.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) recently told Euronews Business that it has introduced improvements in the way the figures are calculated, aiming to provide a more accurate picture going forward.
According to ONS data, in April 2024 the median hourly earnings for full-time employees (excluding overtime) were £19.24 (€22.5) for men and £17.88 (€20.9) for women. That equals a 7.0% pay gap, down slightly from 7.5% in 2023. Put simply, for every £1,000 men earned, women earned £930.
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