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Councils cannot tackle economic gender disparities in isolation

Jon Rowney says local government offers a positive vision that could help address economic gender disparities. But the challenge cannot be solved in isolation and requires partnerships with local employers, he adds.

(C) Camden LBC

As we look ahead to International Women's Day on 8 March – a day to celebrate women's achievements and advance gender equality – it's a moment to reflect on how far we've come and how far we still need to go. 

Men in full-time work continue to earn more than women across every major occupation group, with a gender pay gap of 6.9% in 2025. By their late 50s, the average man has built up a pension pot almost twice the size of the average woman's, worth around £5,000 a year more.

Jon Rowney

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