The Aporia · UK gender pay gap declines as more workers in low-paid jobs

UK gender pay gap declines as more workers in low-paid jobs

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Saker-Clark, H. (2026, October 22). UK gender pay gap declines as more workers in low-paid jobs. Evening Standard. https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/office-for-national-statistics-press-association-b1301898.html

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UK official figures show that the gender pay gap has narrowed to 7.2%, down from 9.4% a decade ago and 7.2% last year, with median hourly earnings for full-time employees at £21.51 for men and £20.05 for women. The data also indicates an increase in the proportion of workers in low-paid jobs to 2.8%, up from 2.6% a year earlier. This trend highlights ongoing disparities, particularly in skilled trades where the gap is largest at 12.7%, while sales and customer service roles see the smallest gap at 1.7%.

Written by AI on 2026-10-22, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

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Story summary

As of October 2026, the UK's gender pay gap declined to 7.2%, down from 9.4% a decade earlier, according to official figures from the ONS. The median hourly earnings for all workers were £20.17 for men and £17.69 for women, reflecting a larger proportion of women in part-time employment. Median hourly earnings for full-time employees specifically were £21.51 for men and £20.05 for women. Despite the overall decline, men still earned more than women across all major occupation groups, with the largest gap at 12.7% for skilled trades workers and the smallest at 1.7% in sales and customer service roles. The data also revealed a smaller gender pay gap among younger workers aged 30 to 39, showing a 4.1% difference.

Written for “UK Gender Pay Gap Declines” on 2026-10-31, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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Henry Saker-Clark

92 article(s) here · 0 carrying a prediction

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Claims (9 extracted, 1 hedged)

The UK’s gender pay gap for workers declined further over the past year, according to official figures. uncertain

gap → decline → figures

Data also showed the proportion of UK workers in low-paid jobs swung higher compared with a year ago. asserted

proportion → show → jobs

This represents another decline in the gap, dipping from 7.2% a year earlier and from 9.4% a decade earlier. asserted

This → represent → %

The median earnings for all workers, including part-time workers, was £20.17 for men and £17.69 for women, driven by the larger proportion of women in part-time employment. The gender pay gap measures differences in pay for men and women in employment across the UK. asserted

gap → include → UK

While the gender pay gap has been decreasing over time, men continued to earn more than women in full-time work in all major occupation groups. asserted

men → decrease → groups

The gap was particularly large, at 12.7%, for workers in skilled trades, while sales and customer service roles saw the narrowest gap, at 1.7%. asserted

roles → see → %

The data showed a smaller gender pay gap among younger workers, with a 4.1% gap for workers aged between 30 and 39. asserted

data → show → 30

ONS figures also showed the proportion of workers in “low-paid” employee jobs increased slightly to 2.8% this year, compared with 2.6% in 2025. asserted

proportion → show → 2025

The proportion of high-paid employee jobs was 23.7% in April 2026, up from 23.4% a year earlier, the ONS said. asserted

ONS → pay → %

UK gender pay gap declines as more workers in low-paid jobs

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Claims (9 extracted, 1 hedged)