Gender pay gap means women work for free for two months a year, says TUC

• Women’s Pay Day – the day when the average woman starts getting paid compared to the average man – is today (Wednesday 4 March) 

• In parts of the UK where the gender pay gap is wider, women work for free for longer. And in some industries women have to wait until April or even May for their Women’s Pay Day 

The average woman effectively works for free for two months of the year compared to the average man, according to analysis published by the TUC today (Wednesday). 

The gender pay gap for all employees is 17.3%. This pay gap means that women have to wait 63 days before they start to get paid on Women’s Pay Day today. 

Industrial gender pay gaps 

The analysis published today – which is also the first day of the TUC’s annual women’s conference in London – shows that there are still big gender pay gaps in many industries. 

Even in jobs dominated by female workers like education and social care the gender pay gap persists. In these sectors women get paid much less per hour on average than men, both because they are more likely to be in part-time jobs or are in lower-paid roles.  

• In education the gender pay gap is 25.4%, so the average woman effectively works for free for more than a quarter of the year (93 days) and has to wait until Thursday 2 April 2020 before she starts getting paid compared to the average man. 

• In professional, scientific and technical jobs, the average woman waits 88 days for her Women’s Pay Day on 28 March 2020. 

• The longest wait for Women’s Pay Day comes in finance and insurance. The gender pay gap is the equivalent of 123 days, meaning it’s more than a third of the year before Women’s Pay Day finally kicks in on 3 May 2020. 

Regional gender pay gaps 

The analysis shows that in some parts of the country gender pay gaps are even bigger so their Women’s Pay Day is later in the year. 

• In the South East the gender pay gap is 20.5%, so Women’s Pay Day in that part of the country won’t fall for another 12 days (Sunday 15 March). 

• And women in the East Midlands (18.9%) and the East of England (19% pay gap) have to wait until next week (9 and 10 March) for their Women’s Pay Day. 

Regional variations in the gender pay gap are likely to be caused by differences in the types of jobs and industries that are most common in that part of the UK. 

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Our economy is stacked against working women. At this rate, it will take another 50 years to close the gender pay gap. 

“No more excuses: government must get on and sort the gender pay gap now. 

“Just publishing gender pay gaps isn’t enough. Companies must be required to explain what steps they’ll take to close their gender pay gaps – and bosses who don’t comply with the law should be fined. 

“And employers must do more to help women balance family responsibilities and work. Flexible working should be a day one right for everyone at work. 

“Every year unions help thousands of women get the pay they deserve. And workplaces that recognise unions are more likely to have family-friendly policies and fair pay. That’s why every woman should be in a union.” 

ENDS