Women earning 43p an hour more than men in part-time

Although overall the gender pay gap remains, with women earning 9.1 per cent less than men, in part-time work the trend is reversed. Data from the Office for National Statistics show that since 1998, median hourly earnings excluding overtime pay have been higher for female employees. The most recent figures show that the gap has widened from 33p in 2010 to 43p last year, with women now earning an average £8.10 an hour compared with £7.67 for men. It means women working part-time now earn 4.8 per cent more than men in the same jobs. Robin Chater, Secretary-General of The Federation of European Employers (FedEE), said: “This shows how the overall figures for the gender pay gap are highly misleading. The size of the gap is largely because a much higher proportion of women work part-time than men and part-time earnings for both genders are lower than for full-time work. “Where women compete on equal terms with men – in the part-time jobs market – they actually earn more than men.” The Fawcett Society, which campaigns for gender equality, said it could be down to the fact that more part-time jobs are in the public sector, where salaries are higher. More women also do part-time jobs with state employers because it is easier for them to do so while also raising a family. Even in full-time work the gender pay gap is narrowing with women under 30 now earning more than young men for the first time, most likely as a result of their improved educational qualifications and the trend to delay motherhood until after building up a career.