The ONS study, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2014, shows that the gender pay gap has narrowed, to 9.4% compared with 10.0% in 2013. This is the lowest since records began in 1997. Other key findings were:

– In April 2014 median gross weekly earnings for full-time employees were £518, up 0.1% from £517 in 2013, the smallest annual growth since 1997, the first year for which data are available.

– Adjusted for inflation, weekly earnings decreased by 1.6% compared to 2013.

– Median gross weekly earnings for full-time employees increased by 1.0% in the public sector, and by 0.7% in the private sector.

Although the official figures are encouraging, readers will be aware that since 1 October 2014, tribunals are obliged to order employers found to be in breach of equal pay law to carry out equal pay audits in certain circumstances.

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