In Scotland, the gender pay gap is now 13.5%, based on the average (or mean) hourly earnings for full-time staff (defined as working over 30 hours per week). The median figure is 10.7%. (UK figures are higher at 17.1% and 12.8% respectively.)
If we compare women working part-time with men working full-time, the gap is even more profound - 32.1% (based on the average or mean). The median figure is 34.7%. (UK figures are higher at 36.6% and 39.9% respectively.)
These figures indicate a small decrease over 2007 pay gap figures and the long term trend indicates that the gender pay gap will continue to reduce at a slow rate.
Although the power to legislate about equal pay is reserved to the Westminster Parliament, the Scottish Government continues to work in partnership with a range of organisations representing employers and employees, to support the Close the Gap campaign which was launched in March 2001.
The campaign aims to raise awareness about the pay gap between women and men in Scotland and encourage activity to close the gap, such as employers carrying out equal pay audits or reviews.
As required by the Gender Equality Duty, the Scottish Government published its Gender Equality Scheme in March 2007, setting out the its high level objectives for delivering on gender equality. This was subsequently revised in June 2008 and reflect the Scottish Government's move from a Departmental to Directorate structure. The scheme includes an objective on equal pay and also occupational segregation, one of the main contributors to the pay gap.
The Gender Equality Duty imposes an extra duty on listed Scottish public authorities with more than 150 (or equivalent) full-time staff. These bodies are required to publish an equal pay statement and review and report on that equal pay statement every three years. The Scottish Government published its equal pay statement in September 2007 which it will review and report on in 2010.
Equal Pay Questionnaire
Do you think you may not be receiving equal pay?
Would you like help to establish whether this is the case e.g. by determining what key information to request from your employer?
If so, the Government Equalities Office's Equal Pay Questionnaire can help.
Further Information