The gender pay gap will capture until 2056 to close at the current rate of progress, according to a novel report released Sunday by the Trades Union Congress (TUC). The analysis indicates women effectively work 47 days a year for free, earning from today, February 15th, only what men earned up to January 18th.
The TUC report calculates the current gender pay gap at 12.8 percent, equating to an annual loss of £2,548 for the average woman worker. This disparity, the organization argues, is driven by factors including women disproportionately taking on caring responsibilities for children and elderly relatives, often necessitating part-time work and subsequent pay reductions.
The pay gap persists across multiple sectors, even those with a predominantly female workforce. The report highlights a 12.8 percent gap in the health and social care sector, and a 17 percent gap in education. Women in wholesale and retail experience a 10.8 percent pay gap, according to the TUC’s findings.
The gap widens with age, with women aged 40 to 49 facing a 16.2 percent disparity, and those aged 50 to 59 experiencing the largest gap at 19.7 percent. Women over 60 continue to experience a significant gap of 17.7 percent. The TUC attributes this trend to the cumulative impact of balancing work with lifelong caring duties, coupled with limited access to affordable childcare and flexible working arrangements.
Paul Nowak, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress, stated, “Women have effectively been working for free for the first month and a half of the year compared to men. Imagine turning up to work every single day and not getting paid. That’s the reality of the gender pay gap. In 2026 that should be unthinkable. With the cost of living still biting hard women simply can’t afford to preserve losing out. They deserve their fair share.”
Nowak also acknowledged the recent passage of the Employments Rights Act, which bans exploitative zero-hour contracts, as a positive step, noting that these contracts “disproportionately hit women and their pay packets.” Yet, he cautioned that without more robust plans, the pay gap will continue to persist.
The TUC is urging the government to “turbo-charge its approach” to closing the gap, advocating for increased opportunities for shared caring responsibilities, improved access to flexible working, and expanded childcare provisions. The organization has not specified what further legislative action it will pursue if the government does not respond to its calls.