Progress on closing gender pay gap faltering

PAY DISCRIMINATION

Progress on closing gender pay gap faltering

A landmark report published today by the Equality and Human Rights Commission warns that attempts to close the pay gap between men and women appear to be "grinding to a halt".

The key reward-related results are these:

  • The mean gender pay gap for women and men working full-time in 2009 was 16.4%.

  • Women aged 40 earn on average 27% less than men of the same age.

  • Women with degrees are estimated to face only a 4% loss in lifetime earnings as a result of motherhood, while mothers with no qualifications face a 58% loss.

  • Pakistani and Bangladeshi men’s earnings fall 13% and 21% below what might be expected, and Black African Christian and Chinese men experience pay penalties of 13% and 11%.

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Background

The 700-page report is the most comprehensive compilation of evidence on discrimination and disadvantage ever compiled in Britain. The first in a series of reports laid before Parliament every three years, "How fair is Britain?" draws on a range of major datasets and surveys, as well as the Commission's own research reports, to build a portrait of Britain in 2010.

The Commission's findings cover all seven areas of formal discrimination set out in law: age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation and transgender status.

Want to know more?

Title: How fair is Britain?, Equality and Human Rights Commission, October 2010.

Availability: More information about the review can be found on the Commission’s web site at www.equalityhumanrights.com/key-projects/triennial-review/.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission is a statutory body established under the Equality Act 2006, which took over the responsibilities of Commission for Racial Equality, Disability Rights Commission and Equal Opportunities Commission. It is the “independent advocate for equality and human rights in Britain”. To find out more visit www.equalityhumanrights.com.