Research reveals many in the UK underestimate the gender pay gap.
- Survey shows 25% of men and 19% of women think no jobs have gender gaps favoring men.
- Official statistics show a 13.1% median gender pay gap across occupations in the UK.
- Misconceptions about gender pay gaps exist in various industries, including marketing and insurance.
- Employers are urged to address gender pay disparities through education and transparency.
A recent survey conducted by Ciphr reveals a pervasive underestimation of the gender pay gap in the UK. This survey gathered insights from 2,000 UK adults, including 1,188 employees, to assess the public’s perception compared to the reality of gender pay differences. Surprisingly, many individuals believe no significant pay gap exists favoring men in various job roles.
The findings show a stark contrast to these beliefs. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the median gender pay gap across all occupations is 13.1%. Women, on average, earn £2.39 less per hour than their male counterparts. Ciphr’s analysis indicates that approximately 71% of all jobs and 89% of industries in the UK display pay gaps of 1% or more in favor of men.
Despite this reality, a mere 10% of employees acknowledge a gender pay gap in their industry, and only 8% recognize it in their specific occupation or employer. This lack of awareness is more pronounced in larger organizations, as shown by the UK government’s 2023-24 gender pay gap data, which highlights that over 78% of organizations with more than 250 employees pay men more than women, with 62% reporting pay gaps of 5% or more.
The disparity in awareness results in a skewed perception of the gender pay gap. Some sectors, like marketing, advertising, and PR, display a higher consciousness of this issue. Nearly two-fifths of workers in these industries acknowledge a 20.1% pay gap, where women earn merely 80p for every £1 earned by men. Other sectors, such as insurance, social care, and recruitment, also acknowledge visible pay gaps.
Conversely, fields like healthcare, retail, and teaching show a lack of recognition of gender pay gaps, despite all having gaps exceeding 11.2%. Notably, only a select few occupations achieve gender pay parity in 2024, including roles in bar staff, retail cashiers, and government administration.
Ciphr’s survey draws attention to the need for employers to confront this issue. Claire Williams, Ciphr’s Chief People and Operations Officer, emphasizes the importance of education and transparent communication within organizations to bridge the gap. Additionally, Ann Allcock, head of diversity at Ciphr, urges employers to examine factors contributing to gender disparities, such as occupational segregation and promotion inequities.
This call to action encourages employers to implement practices like equal pay audits and flexible working options to mitigate gender pay gaps. Employers should also enhance their HR systems to track and address disparities in pay and career advancements between genders.
Addressing the gender pay gap requires a concerted effort from employers to promote awareness and equity.
