Gender pay gap worsens

Britain’s gender wage inequality increased by 4% last year according to the latest World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index published this month. The index measures women’s equality with men on a range of scales including pay, opportunities, political power, health and education.

In 2008, the biggest decline in performance for the UK was in pay equality, dropping Britain 20 places in the table to only 81st. “In terms of overall economic participation, which covers wages, earnings and the proportion of senior managers and professionals, Britain fell 10 places from its 2007 score, to number 42,” said report co-author Saadia Zahidi. Britain fell from 12th to 21st rank this year in terms of women’s political empowerment, due to a 6% drop in the number of female government ministers.

The gender pay gap in Britain widened by 0.1 percentage point to 17.1% in the 12 months to April 2008, according to UK statistics.