Men in Bury earning thousands more in a year than women

In 2019, men working full-time earned on average £608 gross weekly pay for their services - while women working full-time received £538.

This equals around £70 a week more - or £280 a month and £3,640 in a year

The statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) also show that men in Bury are earning £68 a week more than they were in 2010- while women are only earning £39 a week more.

Dr Wanda Wyporska, executive director of The Equality Trust said:"In the 21st century, it's really disappointing and outrageous to see that women are still earning less on average than men.

"Unfortunately the slogan, 'women, like men, but cheaper' rings true not just in Bury but across the land.

"As we know this contributes to overall income inequality which damages our society and this is important because in countries with high levels of inequality, we also see high levels of poor mental and physical health, drug and alcohol addiction, violent crime and incarceration and low levels of educational attainment and trust."

The gender pay gap for full-time workers in the UK increased slightly to 8.9% according to the latest available ONS figures.

The new figure compares with 8.6 per cent in 2018, which was the lowest since records began in 1997, when it stood at 17.4 per cent.

The difference in pay of all men and women workers, including those in part-time jobs, fell from 17.8 per cent in 2018 to 17.3 per cent in 2019, and continues to fall, the report added.

For people under 40 years of age, the pay gap for full-time employees is now “close to zero”, the ONS said.

However, the pay gap among 40 to 49-year-olds is 11.4 per cent and more than 15 per cent for those aged 50 to 59 and above 60 – a figure which has not declined “strongly over time”, the report said.

The ONS said the difference is due to women over the age 40 being “more likely” to work in lower-paid jobs and are less likely to work as managers, compared to younger women.