Disability pay gap widens

The UK’s disability pay gap has widened since 2014, the ONS reports, reaching 13.8% in 2021, up from 2014, when disabled workers earned 11.7% less than non-disabled ones. In 2019 it was 14.1%.

In 2021 disabled employees earned a median of £12.10 an hour, compared with £14.03 for non-disabled workers, a gap of £1.93 an hour. According to the ONS, the disability pay gap has consistently been wider for disabled men than for disabled women; in 2021 median pay for disabled men was 12.4% less than non-disabled men, and median pay for disabled women was 10.5% less than non-disabled women.

The disability pay gap was narrowest in Wales, at 11.6%, and widest in Scotland, at 18.5%.

The TUC pointed out that the hourly average gap of £1.93 equated to one of over £3,500 a year based on a 35 hour week. Its general secretary, Frances O’Grady, said: “Disabled workers were among the hardest hit during the pandemic. And now millions of disabled workers face a living standards emergency – with lower pay than non-disabled workers, but higher energy and transport costs.

“With bills and prices sky-rocketing, the government must act now to help disabled workers and all struggling families. That means coming back to parliament with an emergency budget to boost pay and universal credit, and cut energy bills.”

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/disability/articles/disabilitypaygapsintheuk/2021#analysis-of-disability-pay-gaps

https://www.tuc.org.uk/news/tuc-disabled-workers-face-living-standards-emergency