New data shows inequality in pay for women, disabled people and ethnic minorities in the West Midlands

The pay gap between non-disabled and disabled people in the West Midlands hit a 10-year high while women and some ethnic minorities continue to earn less than their counterparts.

A draft State of the Region report, by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), has provided data which highlights the disparity in wages some people earn in the region.

Statistics showed the estimated disability pay gap between disabled people and non-disabled people was in the West Midlands region was 17.7 per cent in 2023 for all employees.

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This is higher than the 13.8 per cent England figure and a significant rise on the 10.4 per cent in 2013.

The median pay of disabled employees is £12.49 compared to £15.18 for non-disabled employees in the West Midlands region in 2023.

The report said: “The consistent pay gap between disabled employees and non-disabled employees suggests a need for more consistent measures to tackle inequalities in pay between disabled employees and non-disabled employees.

“The pay gaps indicate a persistent issue in achieving equity for disabled employees.”

The estimated median sex/gender pay gap between men and women was 9.5 per cent in the WMCA area in 2024.

In 2024, the estimated median pay gap was lower for full-time employees at 5.9 per cent compared to 9.5 per cent for all employees but this is lower than the England figure of 8.3 per cent.

The report said the gender pay gap is higher among all employees than full-time employees because women fill more part-time jobs.

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Data on the ethnicity pay gap showed that Asian employees earned more than white employees but people of black, mixed and other ethnic groups were paid less.

But the report added the data had no been updated and more timely information was needed to help tackle any inequalities in pay.

It said: “To deliver opportunities for everyone, the visible and invisible systemic barriers that hold back the people of the West Midlands, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, and other protected characteristic must be understood, dismantled, and addressed.”