The gender pay gap is at its lowest since 1997… when records began

THE gender pay gap narrowed to 9.1 per cent in 2017 — the lowest level since records began in 1997.

Back then, the full-time gap in the UK was 17.4 per cent, meaning it has almost halved in the 20 years since.

Despite the gradual overall improvement for women in full-time work, the Office for National Statistics found a wide variation in the gap depending on age.

While women in their 20s in full-time work are paid nearly as much as their male counterparts, the gap starts widening once women hit 35.

For women aged 45 to 49, it jumps to 15 per cent and is even more for those over 55.

For part-time employees, the ONS has identified a different pattern, whereby women are paid more per hour on average than men. However, this gap is also closing — from 6.1 per cent last year to 5.1 per cent this year.

The ONS said this was because earnings for part-time men over the year increased at a faster rate.

From next year large businesses will be required to publish figures on the pay gap.