Women earn around £223,000 less than men in their lifetime, research suggests

Ellen Manning

Women earn nearly a quarter of a million pounds less than men over the course of a lifetime, new research suggests.

The pay gap between the sexes starts when a woman starts work, The Young Women’s Trust found, with those aged 22-29 paid an average of £1,500 a year less than their male colleagues

That rises to £7,600 when they are in their 50s, the study found, and the Trust estimated that the difference amounted to around £223,000 across a woman’s lifetime.

The difference is often caused by a lack of women in senior jobs, having caring responsibilities, or discrimination, it found.

<em>Pay gap – women earn almost a quarter of a million pounds less than men over the course of a lifetime, research by the Young Women’s Trust suggests (Pictures: Rex)</em>
Pay gap – women earn almost a quarter of a million pounds less than men over the course of a lifetime, research by the Young Women’s Trust suggests (Pictures: Rex)

Dr Carole Easton, chief executive of the Young Women’s Trust, said: “We know that many young women are struggling to make ends meet because they are more likely to be on low pay.

“Discrimination and unequal caring arrangements still prevent them progressing at work and reaching higher salary bands.

MORE: Mathematician reveals the ‘secret’ 5.7 million year pattern of Easter
MORE: Watch: Commuter gets swallowed by escalator after hole opens up during rush hour

She added: “We need to help more women into male-dominated sectors and into senior positions. Helping parents share childcare more equally and supporting women back into the workforce after taking time out through flexible working opportunities would make a big difference, too.

“Where companies find they have a gap, there should be a requirement to put in place a plan to close it. Without action, today’s young women face a lifetime of unequal pay.”