The study reveals a persistent gender gap in the workplace despite earnings narrowing over the last decade. Women’s earnings for full-time employees have increased by 34 per cent on average since 2003 compared to a 28 per cent rise for men.
The research suggests that the women were more affected by the recession than men. The male unemployment count has fallen by a third since October 2009 compared to a 1 per cent decline for women in the same period.
Key employment data:
- 67 per cent of women are in employment compared to 77 per cent of men
- 53 per cent of women work full time compared to 72 per cent of men
- 37 per cent of working women work part time – only 1 in 10 working men work part time
- 19 per cent of men are self-employed compared to 10 per cent of women.
The study also found that women receive lower pensions than men. In 2011-12 male pensioners had an average net income after housing costs of £256 per week compared with £212 for female pensioners – a difference of 21 per cent.
Anthony Warrington, director for Halifax, said:
“It’s a positive sign that the economic and financial gap between the genders continues to close in many sectors, but in a number of key areas it is still a long way from parity especially in terms of employment and pension income.
“While differences in pay continue to reduce, and women are actually more likely to hold individual current and savings accounts there is still more work to be done before we can say there are no gender specific financial differences between men and women.”