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Snapshot 8:Mon, Feb 16, 2026 3:09:50 PM GMT last edited by Nick

Report: UK Gender Pay Gap Won't Close Until 2056

Report: UK Gender Pay Gap Won't Close Until 2056, TUC Warns

Published FEB 16

Report: UK Gender Pay Gap Won't Close Until 2056

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Image credit: Mathieu Stern/Unsplash

The Spin

The gender pay gap persists because of deeply ingrained cultural attitudes about working mothers and unequal parenting responsibilities. Women's earnings plummetoften unfairly drop after having children, while men's increase, and this "motherhood penalty" existsis evenwidespread in female-led firms and female-breadwinner homespervasive. Changing workplace policies alone won't fix this — society needs to shift its views.

Of Boys And Men on Substack The New York Times

The wage gap is a statistical illusion created by comparing apples to oranges. MenThe earnings difference reflects personal choices about work-life morebalance, hoursnot discrimination, choosewith higher-payingmen fields and takewomen riskieroften jobsmaking thatdifferent commandchoices premiumrelating payto the workplace and home. Equal pay laws have existed since the 1970s, so any actual discrimination can be challenged in court. The earnings difference reflects personal choices about work-life balance, not discrimination.

Metaculus Prediction

There is a 35% chance that median wages will be higher for women than for men in the United States in 2050, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

The Controversies

When Will the World Reach Full Gender Parity?

Articles on this story

UK’s gender pay gap ‘won’t close for 30 years’ at current rates

Gender pay gap might not close for another three decades

lbc.co.ukFEB 17

Do Feminists Acknowledge That Gender Wage Gap Is A Myth

The gender pay gap is not a myth, it's math

Gender Pay Gap.Html

The New York TimesFEB 17

Women 'work for free 47 days of the year' as gender pay gap persists

Cambridge NewsFEB 17

Pay warning: Millions to work '47 days of the year for free' until 2056

Women 'work for free 47 days of the year' as gender pay gap persists

Hull LiveFEB 17

Gender pay gap won't close until 2056, warns Trades Union Congress

Gender pay gap wont close until 2056 at current pace, warns TUC

Business MattersFEB 17

Women losing 2,548 a year to pay gap, TUC says

IndependentFEB 17

Gender pay gap will not close until 2056 TUC report

Express & StarFEB 17

Gender pay gap 'won't close until 2056' as women work '47 days of year for free'

Daily MirrorFEB 17

Women 'work for free 47 days of the year' as gender pay gap persists

Hull LiveFEB 17

The gender pay gap will take 30 years to close, report says

Tuc Gender Pay Gap Means Women Effectively Work Free 47 Days Year#:~:Text=The%20Analysis%20Reveals%20That%20The,Be%20Part%20Of%20The%20Solution.&Text=The%20Pay%20Gap%20Persists%20Across,For%20Free%20For%2038%20Days.

Trades Union CongressFEB 17

Bias Split Public Figures Controversies

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© 2026 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 6.18.0

© 2026 Improve the News Foundation.

All rights reserved.

Version 6.18.0