Dudley Council has reported a reduction in its gender pay gap, a change primarily driven by cutting jobs held by lower-paid female staff, according to a recent report set to go before the council’s cabinet on February 11.
The gender pay gap — the difference between average earnings for men and women — stood at 2.7 percent as of March 31, 2025, improving from 4.6 percent the previous year. However, this improvement coincides with a decrease in overall staff numbers, dropping from 4,803 to 4,414 employees. The most significant change was a reduction of 221 part-time female workers, who typically occupy lower-paid roles.
The council’s chief executive, Balvinder Heran, earning £197,792 annually, noted in the report that these job cuts shifted the workforce balance towards full-time, higher-paid positions, positively impacting the gender pay gap statistics. Male employees earn an average of £18.41 per hour compared to £17.92 for female employees.
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While Dudley’s average gender pay gap is lower than the national average of 6.9 percent, the median pay gap tells a different story. The median hourly wage for male council staff is £17.29, while for female staff it is £15.58, representing a 9.9 percent gap.
The report highlights that many of the council’s lower-paid jobs — like cleaning and administrative roles — are predominantly held by women. Additionally, 78.13 percent of part-time positions are occupied by female employees. These factors contribute to the council’s overall gender pay disparity.
Dudley Council has expressed commitment to narrowing the pay gap further by encouraging women to pursue careers in traditionally male-dominated sectors within the authority.