Research Paper

The gender pay gap in the UK: 1995-2007

By Wendy Olsen, Vanessa Gash, Leen Vandecasteele, Pierre Walthery and Hein Heuvelman

Publication details

Publication date
Series or book
Government Equalities Office Research Findings
Series or chapter number
2010/2
Publisher
Government Equalities Office
http://www.equalities.gov.uk/publications_and_research/research/the_gender_pay_gap_in_the_uk.aspx

Abstract

This project uses British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) data to examine the gender pay gap in two periods: 1995-97 and 2004-07. It finds that the pay gap has fallen between the two periods.
Work history continues to have a clear link to current earnings. The different sectors that men and women work in influence the pay gap. Occupational segregation is also a factor. Further analysis demonstrates that some factors have an indirect as well as a direct link to the pay gap. For example, those with higher levels of education are less likely to spend long periods in unpaid domestic work, which in turn means that they are likely to have higher hourly wages.

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