Swindon & Wiltshire News
UK’s gender pay gap starts to widen again
The gender pay gap in the UK grew in 2024 after two years of narrowing, according to new figures released today (Thursday).
The Global Payroll Association analysed average salary data and gender pay gap score data to see how the difference in pay between male and female employees in 2024 compared to 2023.
In 2024, the average hourly salary for male employees in the UK stood at £23.11, while female employees earned an average of £19.92 per hour.
For men, this marks an annual increase of £1.56, and for women a rise of £1.22.
It found London leading the charge, with a gender pay gap of 18.8. In the South East the gap grew from 17.4 to 18.0, while in the South West it grew from 14.7 to 15.1.
The only regions where the pay gap continued to narrow were the East Midlands, West Midlands, North East, Yorkshire and the Humber, and Wales, which has taken over from Scotland as the region closest to achieving pay equality.
Melanie Pizzey, CEO and Founder of the Global Payroll Association, says: “Gender inequality remains alive and well when it comes to the average earnings on offer across the UK and, whilst the gap had been narrowing over the last two years, 2024 saw a complete reversal in this trend with the gender pay gap widening to its largest since 2021.
“It’s disappointing to see London leading the way when it comes to the most notable widening of the gender pay gap. You would hope that in a city as diverse as our capital, which attracts top professional talent from around the globe, businesses would be more receptive to the concept of equal pay.”
Image by RDNE Stock project
