Drapers’ Salary Survey 2017 has revealed an average gender pay gap of £22,000 in fashion. Female survey respondents were outnumbered in the top jobs and earned an average of £37,000, compared with £59,000 for men.

The survey of 2,000 retail employees found the disparity was largely driven by men holding more senior positions – just 2% of women fell in the top salary bracket of £100,000 or more, compared with 11% of men.

The trend continued into the next highest salary band of £75,000-£99,999: 3% of women are in this category, compared with 9% of men.

In contrast, 47% of women and 24% of men earn between £20,000 and £34,999. Almost one-tenth (9%) of women earned between £10,000-£19,999, compared with just 3% of men. More than half (54%) of female respondents said they did not receive an end-of-year bonus. For men, this figure sat at 39%.

A study on gender diversity at 44 retailers across a range of sectors, including fashion, published in 2016 by consultancy Elixirr and Women in Retail, found that although 60% of employees were women, only 20% of boardroom executives were female.

The new gender pay gap reporting should help shine a light on issues surrounding pay, forcing retailers to answer for any salary disparity between the amounts male and female employees earn. However, there is still a long way to go before retail executive boards accurately reflect their workforces.

[Words: Draper’s website]