Women in Swindon and Wiltshire work almost three months for free due to gender pay gap

The average woman in Swindon and Wiltshire effectively works a quarter of the year for free compared to the average man, according to analysis published today (Wednesday) by the TUC.

With a pay gap of 23.7 percent, it means women in Swindon work 87 days for free. And the situation is little better in Wiltshire, where the pay gap is 21.3 percent, meaning women work 78 days for free.

The statistics were published to mark national Women’s Pay Day – the day the average women starts getting paid compared to the average man. With an average UK pay gap of 17.3 percent that’s today – March 4.

But women in Wiltshire will have to wait until March 18 to celebrate their Women’s Pay Day, while women in Swindon will not be hanging the bunting until March 27.

The federation of trade unions warns that unless more is done to close the pay gap, the UK will experience yet another generation of women earning less than men.

The TUC analysis also highlights areas in the South West that are known to have higher levels of low-paid and insecure work, have some of the lowest pay gaps.

In Mid Devon, Torridge and the Forest of Dean, where over a third of jobs are paid below the real living wage, the gender pay gap is much lower with women only having to wait until no more than one month until their payday.

The longest waits in the South West region is largely in the Gloucestershire area with places like Tewkesbury, Gloucester and South Gloucestershire having to wait until the end of March or even April before they start getting paid – effectively a quarter of the year.

Sectors known to have gender pay gap problems include:

• Financial services (33.7 percent)
• Legal activities (37.9 percent)
• Education professions (25.9 percent)
• Professional, scientific and technical sectors (22.7 percent)

In these sectors women are typically paid much less on average than men, both because they are more likely to be in part-time jobs and because they are in lower-paid roles.

TUC Regional Secretary of the South West Nigel Costley said: “Half a century since women fought for the right to equal pay, we are still seeing too many women being paid less than men because of their gender. At this rate, it will take another 50 years to close the gender pay gap.

“And it seems that the only way women get to earn the same as their male colleagues is if they earn a rock-bottom low wage where everyone is stuck at the start. That’s not right.

“Clearly just publishing gender pay gaps isn’t enough. Companies must be required to explain what steps they’ll take to close their gender pay gaps – and bosses who don’t comply should be fined.

“We also need to see many more employers provide families-friendly rights at work. Flexible working for everyone should be a right at work from the day you start.”