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| Gender pay gap shrinks to record low, says ONS | Gender pay gap shrinks to record low, says ONS |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The average pay gap between men and women is at its narrowest since comparative records began in 1997, official figures show. | The average pay gap between men and women is at its narrowest since comparative records began in 1997, official figures show. |
| The difference stood at 9.4% in April compared with 10% a year earlier, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. | The difference stood at 9.4% in April compared with 10% a year earlier, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. |
| The gender pay gap in 1997 was 17.4%, the ONS said. | The gender pay gap in 1997 was 17.4%, the ONS said. |
| The figures also showed that the growth in wages was the slowest since records began in 1997. | The figures also showed that the growth in wages was the slowest since records began in 1997. |
| Full-time median gross pay totalled £518 a week in April, up 0.1% on a year earlier. | Full-time median gross pay totalled £518 a week in April, up 0.1% on a year earlier. |
| The figures reflect the squeeze faced by workers who have seen wages rise, but prices rising faster. | |
| When the rising cost of living is taken into account, real earnings fell over the same period. | When the rising cost of living is taken into account, real earnings fell over the same period. |
| Those who are unable to secure full-time, continuous employment have been at the sharp end of this situation. | |
| Wages for the 70% of people in continuous work have gone up by 4.1% in the past year - more than three times the rate of inflation. However, those in more sporadic employment - generally lower skilled jobs - have pulled the average wage down. | |
| Median gross weekly earnings for full-time employees increased by 1% in the public sector and by 0.7% in the private sector, the ONS said. |