The average woman effectively works for free for nearly two months of the year compared to the average man in paid employment, according to new analysis.
The research by the TUC reveals that the gender pay gap for all employees stands at 14.9 per cent. It says this means that working women must wait 54 days – nearly eight weeks, or two months – before they stop working for free.
Even in jobs that tend to be dominated by female workers like education and healthcare, the analysis shows that the gender pay gap persists. In education, the gender pay gap is 22 per cent, meaning the average woman effectively works for free more than a fifth of the year (81 days) until Wednesday 22 March 2023, says the TUC.
It also reveals the gender pay gap widens once a woman becomes a mum, while older women take a ‘financial hit’ for balancing work alongside caring for relatives, as well as children and grandchildren.
