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15-Apr-08 10:15 [Pay and Reward]
CBI blames pay gap on sectors The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has claimed that women in their 40s earn 20 per cent less than men because of the sector in which they work, rather than being a gender issue.
According to a research from the Office of National Statistics, the pay gap between men and women in their 40s was 20.3 per cent compared to one per cent for women aged between 22 and 39.
Susan Anderson, director of Human Resources Policy at the CBI, said: "This survey shows that the main reason men and women earn different amounts is down to the sector they work in, not widespread employer discrimination as is ingenuously claimed by unions."
She added that women are most likely to work in lower-paid sectors than men and as they take up the "lion's share of bringing up families", their careers "plateau" while mens' continue to progress.
Women aged between 50 and 59 earn on average 18 per cent less than men.
The CBI is a lobbying organisation for UK businesses.
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