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The UK’s gender pay gap widened in 2024 after two consecutive years in which narrowed, according to research by The Global Payroll Association (GPA).

The association analysed average UK salary data and gender pay gap score data from the Office for National Statistics to calculate the pay difference between male and female employees in 2024 compared to 2023.

In 2024, the average hourly salary for male employees in the UK stood at £23.11, while female employees earned an average of £19.92 per hour, an annual increase of £1.56 and £1.22, respectively. As a result, the UK’s annual gender pay gap score widened to 13.8, compared to 13.2 in 2023 and 14.7 in 2021.

The research also found that the gender pay gap is widest in London, standing at 18.8 after increasing by 2.6 from 2023. This is followed by the south east (18), the east (17.4), south west (15.1), and East Midlands (14.3). In Scotland it stands at 8.2, in the West Midlands it is 7.4, and in Wales it is 7.2.

However, five UK regions saw their gender pay gap narrow. The score reduced by -2.9 in the West Midlands, and by -2 in Yorkshire and Humber, while Wales, the north east, and East Midlands saw reductions of -1.4, -0.3, and -0.3 respectively.

Melanie Pizzey, chief executive officer and founder of GPA, said: “Gender inequality remains alive and well when it comes to the average earnings on offer across the UK and, while the gap had been narrowing over the last two years, 2024 saw a complete reversal in this trend with the gender pay gap widening to its largest since 2021. It’s disappointing to see London leading the way when it comes to the most notable widening of the gender pay gap. You would hope that in a city as diverse as our capital, which attracts top professional talent from around the globe, businesses would be more receptive to the concept of equal pay.”