The pay gap between men and women is wider than official figures suggest, according to a new report.

Research by Payfinder.com finds that men earn an average 24 per cent more than women, compared to the 19 per cent figure usually quoted.

Forum Response: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

John Philpott, chief economist, said: "Independent pay surveys should always be treated with caution. The annual New Earnings Survey (NES) remains the most respected measure of the gender pay gap and should remain the main reference source for policy debate given its careful attention to comparing the earnings of full time workers only.  Nonetheless the 19 per cent gap still identified by the NES is obviously an ongoing concern. 

"Most observers accept that around three quarters of the gap is due to differences in the patterns of employment between men and women.

"However, while direct pay discrimination – where an employer pays a women less than a man even though she is as effective a worker doing the same job - is not found to be a major factor, differences in employment patterns can themselves reflect unequal opportunities.

"Women’s employment is highly concentrated by occupation – almost two-thirds of women work in 10 service related occupations, mostly performing admin, secretarial or caring roles - and such ‘women’s jobs’ tend to be poorly paid. The reasons for this are partly social, partly economic.