Gender pay inequality
The UK has slipped eight places in the world rankings for gender pay equality, a report suggests.
According to the latest Global Gender Gap Report from the World Economic Forum (WEF), the UK has dropped down to 26th place, falling out of the top 20 for the first time since the annual report began in 2006.
Having started off in ninth place eight years ago, the UK has gradually fallen 17 places.
In terms of women's average pay, this saw a drop of £2,400 in the past year, from £18,000 to £15,400. In contrast, men’s wages have remained at an average of £24,800.
The UK failed to make the top 20 in any of the report’s four categories of measurement — economy, education, health and politics — coming in at 48th in terms of labour participation and 66th for estimated earned income.
The WEF added: “[In the economic participation subsets the UK] appears to remain some way off, with the country ranking 48th in terms of both labour force participation and wage equality and 66th for estimated earned income.”