A new report reveals that Dudley Council has closed its gender pay gap, with the difference in average hourly pay between male and female employees narrowing significantly. The authority's cabinet will be asked to approve the latest figures at its meeting on February 11.
Significant Improvement in Pay Gap Figures
The gender pay gap, which measures the difference between average pay for men and women across the council, stood at 2.7 percent as of March 31, 2025. This represents a substantial improvement from the 4.6 percent reported the previous year, placing Dudley Council well below the national average of 6.9 percent.
Staff Reduction Impacts Pay Gap Calculation
The report, signed by chief executive Balvinder Heran, attributes this decrease to a reduction in overall headcount from 4,803 to 4,414 employees. The most significant change occurred among female part-time staff, with 221 fewer positions than the previous year.
"These positions are generally on lower paid grades, so a reduction in these posts would shift the balance slightly to the full-time, high paid grades, thus affecting the gender pay gap," the report explains.
Hourly Pay Rates and Median Disparity
Current figures show male staff at Dudley Council earn an average of £18.41 per hour, while female employees receive £17.92 per hour. However, the gap widens considerably when examining median figures, which represent the mid-point between highest and lowest pay levels.
The median hourly rate for male employees is £17.29 compared to £15.58 for female staff, creating a gap equivalent to 9.9 percent of male pay. This disparity highlights the concentration of female workers in lower-paid roles within the council structure.
Structural Factors Behind the Pay Gap
The report acknowledges that, like other local authorities, Dudley Council employs a predominantly female workforce in lower-paid positions such as cleaning and administration roles. These positions are frequently part-time, with women comprising 78.13 percent of part-time workers across the authority.
"The gender pay gap within Dudley is, in part, due to the high concentration of female employees in part-time and lower paid job roles," the document states, identifying structural employment patterns as a key contributing factor.
Future Initiatives and Council Response
Despite the reported improvement in average pay gap figures, the authority acknowledges the need for continued progress. Council representatives have indicated they are striving to implement further measures to reduce the disparity.
One approach under consideration involves encouraging more women to pursue traditionally male-dominated careers within the council's employment structure. This initiative forms part of a broader strategy to address occupational segregation and create more balanced workforce participation across different pay grades and employment types.
The upcoming cabinet meeting will provide an opportunity for council members to review the detailed findings and discuss potential policy responses to the ongoing challenge of gender pay equality within local government employment.
