The gender pay gap - the difference between median earnings received by men and women - has fallen from 12.2 per cent in April 2009 to 10.2 per cent in April this year. The decline is the largest annual improvement since the ONS started to properly record the gap back in 1997.
The reasons seems to be largely due to stagnating men's wages. Last year, men's earnings increased by only four pence, going from £12.97 in 2009 to £13.01 in 2010.
The hourly wage rate for women increased by a staggering twenty nine pence an hour. Last year, the median hourly rate was £11.39; this year it is £11.68.
The percentage changes reflect the underlying dynamics more clearly; men received a 0.3 percent median increase, while women's salaries went up by 2.6 percent.
Definitely good news for the girls, whose wages are more or less keeping up with inflation. A few more years like 2010, and women's wages could actually overtake those enjoyed by the hairy half of the population.
So what is going wrong, boys? However, I can't promise to spend much time thinking on that thorny issue; I am now off to Tesco. What can I buy with twenty nine pence?
4 comments:
Probably more women work in the extortion funded sector (which isn't cutting wages in response to the shrinking economy), the sector whos taxes are killing the reciprocal sector where wealth is created and most men are employed.
If you leave your shopping till past eleven, you can probably buy two of today's loaves from the bakery at 11p each. And still have change for a .......
I am eating part of one such loaf right now, and very pleasing it is.
Pay isn't the issue for women - it's how does a woman of child bearing age get a job except in the public sector or very large private sector firms.
Marchamont,
Thanks for the comment.
That is the kind of helpful suggestion that I really appreciate.
I will follow up tomorrow. Of course, I was very pleased to hear that your cut price loaf was working out so well for you.
Actually, this post is an opener to a new blog theme. Over the next couple of weeks, I would like to look at demographics and in particular the decline in fertility.
Alice
http://lattenomics.wordpress.com/2008/05/07/do-women-really-get-paid-less-than-men/
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