Gender pay gap has widened: report

The Women and Work Commission was set up by former Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The Government's "lack of action" in breaking down stereotypes in schools is partly to blame for the gender pay gap, according to an official report.

Progress in narrowing the wage difference between men and women is "stalling" and ministers should do more to change the culture in the education system to encourage girls to opt for non-traditional jobs, said the Women and Work Commission.

The group, set up by Tony Blair when he was Prime Minister in 2004 to review the gender pay gap and other employment issues facing women, called on the Government to do more to promote quality flexible and part-time work.

The commission put the gender pay gap at 22.6%, which it said was worse than in 2007 when women were paid 21.9% less per hour than men.

"The gender pay gap stubbornly persists despite monumental changes in women's position in the workplace with the employment rate for women now almost 70%," said the report.

The commission, whose members are drawn from employers and unions, said job segregation is still the norm, with women dominating caring, cashiering, clerical, cleaning and catering sectors, where pay rates are lower.

Chairwoman Baroness Margaret Prosser said: "The Government is committed to tackling inequalities in the workplace and progress has been made across the public sector and in helping women get the skills and training they need.

"But ministers must match commitment with fundamental change that will make a real difference - starting in our schools.

The commissioners make 43 proposals for Government action, saying that they expect the Department for Children, Schools and Families to produce a national strategy for tackling gender inequality in the education system with a particular focus on children aged 14 and under by March next year.

Goals should be set for tackling stereotyping in careers advice, increasing take up of vocational skills and providing work experience placements for girls in non-traditional sectors, the report urged.