Charity calls for action as gender pay gap widens in Wales
Chwarae Teg say in some parts of Wales the difference is as high as a quarter
Last updated 8th Feb 2022
Welsh gender equality charity, Chwarae Teg is calling for more focus on the issue as it revealed Wales’ gender pay gap has increased to 12.3% this year.
Research by the charity also found only 29% of councillors are women, and only 28% of women in Wales feel safe walking alone in the dark.
They want a renewed focus from government, business and society to tackle the causes of gender inequality.
In its annual State of the Nation report, published today Chwarae Teg reveals a frustrating picture of gender equality in Wales.
The research shows while we are becoming a more equal nation in some areas, a many indicators show little to no progress.
Wales’ gender pay gap has increased to 12.3% this year, only 29% of councillors are women, and only 28% of women in Wales feel safe walking alone in the dark.
Natasha Davies is head of policy and research at the charity. She says the pay gap is up to nearly a quarter in some areas:
“The pay gap varies quite a lot across different parts of Wales, as high as 25 percent in some areas.
“And what this is indicative of is the inequality that women continue to face in the labour market.”
More women aged 16-24 are now in work when compared to men. But this contrasts with an overall increase in unemployment amongst women, with women from an ethnic minority being particularly affected. 6.7% of women from an ethnic minority are currently unemployed, an increase of 2.4% on last year.
The charity also says their State of the Nation 2022 report also brings into sharp focus the fact that women experience harassment, sexual violence, and domestic abuse-related crimes at a higher rate than men.
73% of all victims of domestic abuse-related crimes in Wales and England are women with 53% of all violence against women offences recorded being domestic abuse-related.