This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/nov/20/gender-pay-gap-education-business-men

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
The gender pay gap is closing – here’s how to consign it to history The gender pay gap is closing. Here’s how to consign it to history
(about 1 hour later)
Two weeks ago, we marked Equal Pay day – the point after which women, in effect, work for free until the end of the year. Two weeks ago, we marked Equal Pay Day – the point after which women, in effect, work for free until the end of the year.
After continued progress led by this government, figures out today show the gap is now at its lowest level. Latest statistics show that the gender pay gap has reduced by 0.7%, and now stands at 19.1%. This means that for both full-time workers and overall, it is at its lowest point in history. After continued progress led by this government, figures out today show the gender pay gap is now at its lowest level. Latest statistics show that gap has reduced by 0.7%, and now stands at 19.1%. This means that for both full-time workers and overall, it is at its lowest point in history.
We should be shouting from the rooftops that these figures are going in the right direction, and it is something to celebrate. Women are a vital part of a long-term economic plan to secure a better future for Britain – and this is further proof that the plan is working – creating jobs and giving hard-working women the economic security they have earned. But there is still a long way to go, and I want to see it reduce further and faster. We should be shouting from the rooftops that these figures are going in the right direction, and it is something to celebrate. Women are a vital part of a long-term economic plan to secure a better future for Britain and this is further proof that the plan is working, creating jobs and giving hard-working women the economic security they have earned. But there is still a long way to go, and I want to see it reduce further and faster.
It is, though, a difficult problem to solve. It isn’t as simple as demanding that women be paid the same as men – as the Made In Dagenham musical which opened this month reminds us, progress has been made since that battle many decades ago. The causes of the gender pay gap are far more deeply embedded in our culture and in our labour market. It is, though, a difficult problem to solve. It isn’t as simple as demanding that women be paid the same as men – as the Made in Dagenham musical which opened this month reminds us, progress has been made since that battle many decades ago. The causes of the gender pay gap are far more deeply embedded in our culture and in our labour market.
One of the problems is that there are more men at the peak of their careers in high-earning jobs and professions, although over time this is changing. We know that the gender pay gap for full-time workers under 40 has almost completely disappeared. This shows that things are changing over generations as more women join the labour market and their skills and qualifications equal those of men, but of course many women work part-time and can still be penalised for doing so.One of the problems is that there are more men at the peak of their careers in high-earning jobs and professions, although over time this is changing. We know that the gender pay gap for full-time workers under 40 has almost completely disappeared. This shows that things are changing over generations as more women join the labour market and their skills and qualifications equal those of men, but of course many women work part-time and can still be penalised for doing so.
We need to do more to speed up this process, and that is where cultural change begins. It starts from the beginning of someone’s career – or even before that. Indeed, working with schools is key if we are to ensure we widen aspirations and ensure girls have access to a wide range of careers. I firmly believe that my dual roles as secretary of state for education and minister for women and equalities are closely linked. Never is this more apparent than when tackling the gender pay gap.We need to do more to speed up this process, and that is where cultural change begins. It starts from the beginning of someone’s career – or even before that. Indeed, working with schools is key if we are to ensure we widen aspirations and ensure girls have access to a wide range of careers. I firmly believe that my dual roles as secretary of state for education and minister for women and equalities are closely linked. Never is this more apparent than when tackling the gender pay gap.
We need to encourage girls, while they are at school, to know that no career path is closed to them, and to take pride in having ambitions. We must ensure that girls do not close off career paths by limiting the subjects that they study – this is why continuing to study science, technology, engineering, and maths is so important.We need to encourage girls, while they are at school, to know that no career path is closed to them, and to take pride in having ambitions. We must ensure that girls do not close off career paths by limiting the subjects that they study – this is why continuing to study science, technology, engineering, and maths is so important.
We should also make sure that girls have the confidence to aim for jobs and careers that they may think are out of their reach. It is well known that men will apply for a job they are half qualified for, but women do not apply unless they meet every requirement. We want to see girls have equal levels of confidence and take the necessary leaps and risks.We should also make sure that girls have the confidence to aim for jobs and careers that they may think are out of their reach. It is well known that men will apply for a job they are half qualified for, but women do not apply unless they meet every requirement. We want to see girls have equal levels of confidence and take the necessary leaps and risks.
A cultural change in the business world is also required. Companies need to be more aware of how women fare in their organisations, and pay is key to this. More than 250 organisations have signed up to the government backed Think, Act, Report, which encourages companies to analyse the role of women in their organisations. I want every company to sign up and be conscious of their pay gap, so that it becomes the norm for businesses to look for and address the barriers that women face. A cultural change in the business world is also required. Companies need to be more aware of how women fare in their organisations, and pay is key to this. More than 250 organisations have signed up to the government-backed Think, Act, Report, which encourages companies to analyse the role of women in their organisations. I want every company to sign up and be conscious of their pay gap, so that it becomes the norm for businesses to look for and address the barriers that women face.
We all know that discussing pay can feel awkward – no one likes doing it. However, in many ways it is vital. New guidance is available to encourage women to investigate how they are being paid compared with their peers, which I hope empowers women to challenge their employers if they are being paid unfairly.We all know that discussing pay can feel awkward – no one likes doing it. However, in many ways it is vital. New guidance is available to encourage women to investigate how they are being paid compared with their peers, which I hope empowers women to challenge their employers if they are being paid unfairly.
Much of this change needs to come from men too. The majority of people on boards and in senior management positions are male, and so attempting to tackle the gender pay gap without the help of men is like running with your shoe laces tied – it will take us much longer to get there. Much of this change needs to come from men too. The majority of people on boards and in senior management positions are male, so attempting to tackle the gender pay gap without the help of men is like running with your shoe laces tied – it will take us much longer to get there.
We have also taken steps to help more women balance family and work, where they choose to. We have to provide more affordable childcare to allow mothers to move into and progress in work. We must also modernise our workplaces so that they work equally well for men and women. The right to request flexible working introduced by this government has now been extended to all employees, and shared parental leave will come into effect next year. When both parents can take equal leave after the birth of their child, there is no reason for women to be discriminated against for the possibility of having children or to have their careers set back because they take time off. This will, of course, take time to become the norm and requires a cultural change in industry itself.We have also taken steps to help more women balance family and work, where they choose to. We have to provide more affordable childcare to allow mothers to move into and progress in work. We must also modernise our workplaces so that they work equally well for men and women. The right to request flexible working introduced by this government has now been extended to all employees, and shared parental leave will come into effect next year. When both parents can take equal leave after the birth of their child, there is no reason for women to be discriminated against for the possibility of having children or to have their careers set back because they take time off. This will, of course, take time to become the norm and requires a cultural change in industry itself.
I was very lucky growing up. I had supportive parents, role models and teachers who made me believe I could achieve anything. I want my six-year-old son and his friends of both genders to have the same ambition and possibilities open to them – and we should all take responsibility to make this happen. Until we all challenge the root causes of the gender pay gap, we cannot expect change to happen overnight.I was very lucky growing up. I had supportive parents, role models and teachers who made me believe I could achieve anything. I want my six-year-old son and his friends of both genders to have the same ambition and possibilities open to them – and we should all take responsibility to make this happen. Until we all challenge the root causes of the gender pay gap, we cannot expect change to happen overnight.
I am delighted that the pay gap has reduced this year by such a margin, and that the long-term trend continues to see it narrow. However, I am not complacent. I hope that next year it reduces further, and I will continue to take action until Equal Pay day and these statistics are a thing of the past. I am delighted that the pay gap has reduced this year by such a margin, and that the long-term trend continues to see it narrow. However, I am not complacent. I hope that next year it reduces further, and I will continue to take action until Equal Pay Day and these statistics are a thing of the past.