Progress stalled on gender pay gap

Lack of progress on closing the gender pay gap was described as “disappointing” by campaign group the Fawcett Society after the latest reporting figures were revealed in early April.

The annual data from 10,000 employers with more than 250 workers, who have a duty to publish pay gap figures, showed that the difference in average hourly pay between men and women stood at 12.1% in 2022, barely changed from 12.2% the previous year and 11.9% in 2017.

“The high level of reporting today is good news,” said a Fawcett statement. “But it is disappointing that progress on closing the gender pay gap has all but stagnated. If we are to see meaningful progress, employers must go further than data sharing.

The society wants every employer to be required to create an action plan for closing the gap. “Many do, but it is not yet widespread,” it said.