Understanding the gender pay gap in the UK: drivers and barriers, evidence from UKLHS 2009 to 2023

Publication type

Report

Authors

Publication date

April 15, 2026

Summary:

This report examines the gender pay gap (GPG) in the UK between 2009 and 2023. The GPG is defined as the percentage difference in pay between men and women.

The analysis uses data from the Understanding Society UK Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS), a large, nationally representative longitudinal survey covering the period from 2009 to 2023. We estimate the level of the GPG and how it has changed over time. We examine the main factors associated with the gap and assess how their contribution has evolved over time. We also analyse differences in the GPG between low-paid and high-paid workers. Finally, we investigate how the GPG can be reduced by targeting the main drivers identified by our analysis.

Subjects

Link

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/understanding-the-gender-pay-gap-in-the-uk/understanding-the-gender-pay-gap-in-the-uk-drivers-and-barriers-evidence-from-uklhs-2009-to-2023

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