Pay · HR glossary

Gender Pay Gap

The gender pay gap is a measure of differences in pay between gender groups across a defined population. It may use mean or median earnings and can reflect workforce composition as well as pay practices.

Example

An employer compares median hourly pay for two gender groups and finds a gap, then examines representation across job levels and types of work.

What to keep in mind

A pay gap is not automatically evidence of unequal pay for the same work, but it warrants investigation. Follow the relevant reporting method and distinguish adjusted analyses from unadjusted headline figures.

Further reading

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