In 2024, the difference between average hourly earnings for men and women in the United Kingdom for all workers was 13.1 percent, compared with seven percent for full-time workers, and -3 percent for part-time workers. During the provided time period, the gender pay gap was at its highest in 1997, when it was 27.5 percent for all workers. Compared with 1997, the gender pay gap has fallen by 13.2 percent for all workers, and 9.7 percent for full-time workers. Gender pay gap higher in older age groups Although the gender pay gap among younger age groups was relatively small in 2024, the double-digit pay gap evident in older age groups served to keep the overall gap high. The gender pay gap for workers aged between 18 and 21 for example was -0.5 percent, compared with 12.1percent for people in their 50s. Additionally, the gender pay gap for people aged over 60 has changed little since 1997, falling by just 1.2 percent between 1997 and 2023, compared with a 14.9 percent reduction among workers in their 40s. Positions of power As of 2024, women are unfortunately still relatively underrepresented in leadership positions at Britain’s top businesses. Among FTSE 100 companies, for example, just 9.4 percent of CEOs were female, falling to just 6.1 percent for FTSE 250 companies. Representation was better when it came to FTSE 100 boardrooms, with 44.7 percent of positions at this level being filled by women, compared with 42.6 percent at FTSE 250 companies. In the corridors of political power, the proportion of female MPs was estimated to have reached its highest ever level after the 2024 election at 41 percent, compared with just three percent in 1979.

In 2025, the difference between average hourly earnings for men and women in the United Kingdom for all workers was 12.8 percent, compared with 6.9 percent for full-time workers, and -2.9 percent for part-time workers. During the provided time period, the gender pay gap was at its highest in 1997, when it was 27.5 percent for all workers. Compared with 1997, the gender pay gap has fallen by 13.2 percent for all workers, and 9.7 percent for full-time workers. Gender pay gap higher in older age groups Although the gender pay gap among younger age groups was relatively small in 2024, the double-digit pay gap evident in older age groups served to keep the overall gap high. The gender pay gap for workers aged between 18 and 21 for example was -0.5 percent, compared with 12.1percent for people in their 50s. Additionally, the gender pay gap for people aged over 60 has changed little since 1997, falling by just 1.2 percent between 1997 and 2023, compared with a 14.9 percent reduction among workers in their 40s. Positions of power As of 2024, women are unfortunately still relatively underrepresented in leadership positions at Britain’s top businesses. Among FTSE 100 companies, for example, just 9.4 percent of CEOs were female, falling to just 6.1 percent for FTSE 250 companies. Representation was better when it came to FTSE 100 boardrooms, with 44.7 percent of positions at this level being filled by women, compared with 42.6 percent at FTSE 250 companies. In the corridors of political power, the proportion of female MPs was estimated to have reached its highest ever level after the 2024 election at 41 percent, compared with just three percent in 1979.