What is the gender pay gap in the UK?
The ONS measures the gender pay gap as the difference between men's and women's median hourly pay, excluding overtime. In April 2025 it was 6.9% for full-time employees, down from 7.1% in 2024, and 12.8% for all employees, according to the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings published 23 October 2025.
The all-employees figure is larger because more women work part-time, in jobs that pay less per hour on average. Separately, employers with 250 or more staff must publish their own gap each year on the government's gender pay gap reporting service.
The ONS states that the gap is not a measure of unequal pay for the same job, which is a different legal question under the Equality Act. Check whether a figure refers to full-time, all employees, mean or median.
Related questions
- What is the average salary in the UK?
- How many workers are paid the minimum wage?
- How are public sector pay rises decided?
This answer says where the official figures are published and how they are defined. It gives no verdict on any claim. To report an error, send a correction request. More questions about work, pay and employment: all Work, pay and employment questions.