Gender pay gap won't close until 2056, warns union
BBC World
February 15, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The gender pay gap in the UK is expected to persist for decades, with the Trades Union Congress (TUC) warning that it won’t close until 2056 if current progress continues. The disparity currently stands at 12.8%, meaning women effectively work 47 days a year without pay compared to men. This issue persists even in industries where women make up the majority of employees, such as healthcare and social care, where the gap remains significant at 17% and 12.8%, respectively. The widest gap is found in finance and insurance, at 27.2%, while leisure services show a much smaller gap of just 1.5%.
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak highlighted the economic burden on women, particularly during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. He emphasized that women are being shortchanged by thousands of pounds annually due to the pay gap and called for urgent action to address this inequality. The TUC has identified several key areas for improvement, including better access to flexible working arrangements and more affordable childcare. Additionally, Nowak pointed to the recent Employment Rights Act as a positive step toward pay parity but stressed the need for increased paid parental leave to allow parents to share caregiving responsibilities more evenly.
The gender pay gap is most pronounced among workers aged 50-59, likely due to long-term career interruptions or reduced ambitions caused by caregiving duties. This age group’s experience underscores the systemic barriers women face in achieving equal pay throughout their careers. Employers with over 250 employees are now required to publish plans outlining how they will address and reduce the gender pay gap. However, business groups have raised concerns that additional benefits and leave provisions could increase costs and deter hiring.
For readers interested in global economic inequality and workers’ rights, this issue highlights the slow progress toward achieving pay parity and the structural barriers that prevent it. The TUC’s findings underscore the importance of policy changes to address these disparities, such as expanding access to paid parental leave and flexible working conditions. Closing the gender pay gap is not just a matter of fairness—it’s essential for fostering economic stability and equality for future generations.
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Originally published on BBC World on 2/15/2026