Gender pay gap 2022 - the results are in

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published the latest gender pay gap figures for 2022. The report reveals that the gender pay gap among full-time employees in the UK has increased to 8.3% compared to 7.7% in 2021.

Whilst this is still below the pre-pandemic gap (being 9% in 2019), it is a change to the slowly declining trend we had seen developing since the first gender pay gap figures were reported. This is not to say that the gap is on the increase generally as figures are still skewed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and, although it might seem like a thing of the past, the knock-on effects of furlough leave. ONS advise to look at the bigger picture rather than focusing in on this year’s results in isolation.

Figures show that the gender pay gap is low for groups aged under 40 (as it has been since 2017) but for age groups above 40 it is much higher (10.9% this year). This is thought to be due to a lower number of women moving into higher-paid managerial occupations after the age of 39.

Other highlights include:

• A continuing large gender pay gap for higher earners compared to lower-paid employees.
• The largest fall in gender pay gap has been in the occupation group of managers, directors and senior officials (having previously been identified as a group with a notable pay gap).
• The gender pay gap is higher in every English region than in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

It may be another year until we see a more reliable picture, though there is still likely to be some impact from the economic turbulence that we are currently experiencing. The hope is that this year’s increase is nothing more than a lingering effect of the pandemic that will right itself again going forward.

For the full report, follow this link: Gender pay gap in the UK - Office for National Statistics