Women losing battle of sexes as pay gap widens

Published on Sunday 19 October 2008 22:14

THE gender pay gap appears to be widening with men now earning 32 per cent more than women, figures published today suggest.

Age also remains a substantial factor in pay disparities, with the average 49-year-old paid nearly 10,000 more than the national average full-time wage of 27,376, while the average 21-year-old earns only 16,502.

According to the report, from insurance company Unum, salaries also tend to tail off for older workers, with 59-year-olds earning less than the national average, at 26,771.

The figures, compiled from a survey earlier this year, showed women earning a full-time average salary of 22,773, while men are paid 30,035.

But recent figures from the Office of National Statistics, based on its annual survey in 2007, showed a slightly smaller difference between median full-time annual pay of men and women, of 28 per cent.

Paul Davies, Unum's marketing and business development director, said the firm's survey suggests the pay gap between the sexes appeared to be growing, and gender and age issues remained "at the very heart" of pay disparities in the UK.

"Employers need to be careful and act swiftly to address gender and age inequalities as these can quickly lead to staff discontent and absence management issues," he said.