THE latest pay statistics show that men earn just over £3000 a year more on average than women in Bolton.

In 2019, men working full-time earned salaries on average of £536 gross weekly pay for their services- while women working full-time received £477.

This equals around £60 a week more- or £240 a month and £3,120 in a year

However, statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that men in Bolton are earning £85 a week more in their salaries than they were in 2010- while women are earning around £97 a week more.

Dr Wanda Wyporska, Executive Director, The Equality Trust said:"In the twentieth century, it's really disappointing and outrageous to see that women are still earning less on average than men.

"Unfortunately the slogan, 'women, like men, but cheaper' rings true not just in Bolton but across the land.

"As we know this contributes to overall income inequality which damages our society and this is important because in countries with high levels of inequality, we also see high levels of poor mental and physical health, drug and alcohol addiction, violent crime and incarceration and low levels of educational attainment and trust."

The gender pay gap for full-time workers in the UK increased slightly to 8.9% according to the latest available ONS figures.

The new figure compares with 8.6% in 2018, which was the lowest since records began in 1997, when it stood at 17.4%.

The difference in pay of all men and women workers, including those in part-time jobs, fell from 17.8% in 2018 to 17.3% in 2019, and continues to fall, the report added.

For people under 40 years of age, the pay gap for full-time employees is now “close to zero”, the ONS said.

However, the pay gap among 40 to 49-year-olds is 11.4% and more than 15% for those aged 50 to 59 and above 60 – a figure which has not declined “strongly over time”, the report said.

ONS said the difference is due to women over the age 40 being “more likely” to work in lower-paid jobs and are less likely to work as managers, compared to younger women.