The gender pay gap statistics for 2007 were published today by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) today (link).
They show that the gap (median level) is at the lowest since records began - 12.6% from 12.8% in 2006
At a mean level, the gap has also reduced to 17.2% from 17.5% respectively.
What is interesting is that the ONS have produced a good explanation (see below) on why there are differences which coincide with the arguments made in the last two posts (link) (link). This should help take the wind out of the sails of the Feminist Fundamentalists who decry the gap as being a clear sign of sexual discrimination and thereby allowing them to promote the need for women to receive extra help at the expense of men.
"Women's weekly earnings, including overtime, were lower than men's. This was partly because they worked fewer paid hours per week."
"Although median hourly pay provides a useful comparison between the earnings of men and women, it does not necessarily indicate differences in rates of pay for comparable jobs. Pay medians are affected by the different work patterns of men and women, such as the proportions in different occupations and their length of time in jobs."
The figures again are significant. As men (especially in the South east)are self employed or in the private sector and women in public sector. so we see a slowing of rises for low paid women in care etc. Equally in Northern Ireland where the ecomomy is much more dominated by the public sector a very narrow "gap" as there is not the high earning private sector. So the gap would dramatically drop if women were more frequently self employed or in the private sector. There, no doubt, the crucial factors are; access to relatively generous leave and other entitlements plus greater job security. Patterns reflected in other countries such as Sweden and Denmark.
Posted by: Nigel | Thursday, 08 November 2007 at 16:06