Equal Pay Survey

Ipsos's recent poll for The Fawcett Society and UNISON (conducted by telephone 26-28 October 2007) shows that almost six in ten (58%) people believe that men are paid more than women for doing jobs that require a similar level of skill -- and this figure rises to almost two-thirds (64%) among women.

When provided with statistics on the average pay for men and women, six in ten (61%) say they feel that government attempts to ensure equal pay for women have not gone far enough, and the figure rises to seven in ten (71%) among women. About a third (30%) of the public think that current pay levels are about right.

The majority (58%) of people agree that they would be more likely to vote for a politician if they thought he / she was committed to ensuring equal pay for women, and an even higher figure (69%) say they would be more likely to listen to a politician they thought was committed to ensuring equal pay. The Labour party is seen as the most committed to closing pay differenced between men and women (23%), followed by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats (both on 8%) -- however half (49%) of the public say they don't know which party is best on this issue.

Topline Results

• Ipsos interviewed a representative quota sample of 1,000 adults in Great Britain aged 16+ (485 men and 515 women)
• Interviews were conducted by telephone between 26-28 October 2007
• Data are weighted to match the profile of the population
• Where percentages do not sum to 100, this may be due to computer rounding, the exclusion of "don't know" categories, or multiple answers. Throughout the volume, an asterisk (*) denotes any value of less than half a per cent
• Unless otherwise stated, results are based on all respondents

Q1 As far as you know, would you say that in Britain, generally, men are paid more than women for doing jobs that require a similar level of skill, or are men paid less, or is there no difference?

Q2 Government statistics show that on average men working full time are paid 16311.71 an hour and women working full time are paid 16310.24 an hour, which is 1631.47 less an hour than men. Have government attempts to ensure equal pay for women in Britain gone too far, not gone far enough, or are they about right?

Q3 I am now going to read out a series of statements. For each please tell me whether you agree or disagree.

If I thought a politician was committed to ensuring equal pay for women I would be more likely to listen to him or her.

Q4 If I thought a politician was committed to ensuring equal pay for women I would be more likely to vote for him or her.

Q5 Which party, the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats or some other party, are in your view the most committed to closing pay differences between men and women?