[UK] Women hardest hit by cost of living crisis with millions earning below Living Wage

In advance of International Women’s Day, the Living Wage Foundation (LWF) carried out research on gender and the Living Wage and revealed that over two million UK women earn below the living wage and are more likely to be struggling with the rising cost of living than men, Left Foot Forward reports.

The Living Wage Foundation’s report studied data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) annual survey for hours and earnings to discover the number of jobs below the Real Living Wage.

The research reportedly found that 14 per cent of women (more than 2 million) who are in work are paid below the real living wage, compared to only 9 per cent of men (1.4 million). 

Of women in shift work, 13 per cent are more likely to be on zero-hour contracts, compared to 9 per cent of men in shift work. And the research found that women are also less likely to receive payment when shifts are cancelled; at 27 per cent compared to 17 per cent of men.

In the UK, the Real Living Wage is currently £10.90, with a higher rate of £11.95 in London where the cost of living is higher. The Living wage is voluntary, unlike the National Minimum Wage (NMW) which is paid at £9.50 an hour and is a legal requirement. Around 12,000 businesses across the UK currently pay the Living Wage.

The LWF also reportedly asked workers to share their thoughts on their pay and the cost of living crisis. The foundation found that 75 per cent of women felt their pay negatively impacts their levels of anxiety, compared to 65 per cent of men. 72 per cent of women said their pay has a negative impact on their quality of life, compared to 66 per cent of men.

Responding to the findings of the report, Katherine Chapman - director of the Living Wage Foundation - said, “Our research demonstrates the reality that millions of women in the UK – often cleaners, catering staff and care workers – are more likely to be trapped in low-paying, insecure and precarious jobs.  

“This year’s International Women’s Day 2023 is focused on equity – the sticky floor of low pay and precarious work is holding women back; true equity needs to start with a real Living Wage.   

“It has been heartening to see record levels of employers signing up the real Living Wage and Living Hours in this past year. We’re encouraging all businesses who can to join our network of 12,000 Living Wage employers,” Ms Chapman added.

When asked if the UK government should be doing more to encourage employers to pay the Real Living Wage and help bridge the gender pay gap, a spokesperson from the LWF told Left Foot Forward, “While the ‘glass ceiling’ often makes headlines, the reality for millions of women across the UK is of being stuck on the sticky floor of low pay and insecure work. Living Wage Foundation research underlines that women are being disproportionately impacted by the cost of living crisis, holding 60 per cent of jobs that pay less than the real Living Wage.

“Clustered in low-paying sectors like social care in which more than half of workers are women, there is a vital role for government to increase local authority funding so that care workers can enjoy the security and stability of a real Living Wage when they need it most.”

Source: Left Foot Forward

(Link and quotes via original reporting)

In advance of International Women’s Day, the Living Wage Foundation (LWF) carried out research on gender and the Living Wage and revealed that over two million UK women earn below the living wage and are more likely to be struggling with the rising cost of living than men, Left Foot Forward reports.

The Living Wage Foundation’s report studied data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) annual survey for hours and earnings to discover the number of jobs below the Real Living Wage.

The research reportedly found that 14 per cent of women (more than 2 million) who are in work are paid below the real living wage, compared to only 9 per cent of men (1.4 million). 

Of women in shift work, 13 per cent are more likely to be on zero-hour contracts, compared to 9 per cent of men in shift work. And the research found that women are also less likely to receive payment when shifts are cancelled; at 27 per cent compared to 17 per cent of men.

In the UK, the Real Living Wage is currently £10.90, with a higher rate of £11.95 in London where the cost of living is higher. The Living wage is voluntary, unlike the National Minimum Wage (NMW) which is paid at £9.50 an hour and is a legal requirement. Around 12,000 businesses across the UK currently pay the Living Wage.

The LWF also reportedly asked workers to share their thoughts on their pay and the cost of living crisis. The foundation found that 75 per cent of women felt their pay negatively impacts their levels of anxiety, compared to 65 per cent of men. 72 per cent of women said their pay has a negative impact on their quality of life, compared to 66 per cent of men.

Responding to the findings of the report, Katherine Chapman - director of the Living Wage Foundation - said, “Our research demonstrates the reality that millions of women in the UK – often cleaners, catering staff and care workers – are more likely to be trapped in low-paying, insecure and precarious jobs.  

“This year’s International Women’s Day 2023 is focused on equity – the sticky floor of low pay and precarious work is holding women back; true equity needs to start with a real Living Wage.   

“It has been heartening to see record levels of employers signing up the real Living Wage and Living Hours in this past year. We’re encouraging all businesses who can to join our network of 12,000 Living Wage employers,” Ms Chapman added.

When asked if the UK government should be doing more to encourage employers to pay the Real Living Wage and help bridge the gender pay gap, a spokesperson from the LWF told Left Foot Forward, “While the ‘glass ceiling’ often makes headlines, the reality for millions of women across the UK is of being stuck on the sticky floor of low pay and insecure work. Living Wage Foundation research underlines that women are being disproportionately impacted by the cost of living crisis, holding 60 per cent of jobs that pay less than the real Living Wage.

“Clustered in low-paying sectors like social care in which more than half of workers are women, there is a vital role for government to increase local authority funding so that care workers can enjoy the security and stability of a real Living Wage when they need it most.”

Source: Left Foot Forward

(Link and quotes via original reporting)