A report published by the World Economic Forum (WEF) has revealed that it could take 170 years to close the gap in employment opportunities and pay between men and women.
While other gaps in other metrics such as levels of education are closing, economic disparity is actually widening. Last year the WEF predicted it would take 118 years for the salary gap to close.
In terms of income and employment, the difference in salary is currently at 59%, the widest it has been since 2008.
The report estimated that women work, also work 50 minutes longer than men on average, and have a much slimmer chance of reaching top roles.
Across the four sub-categories of economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political participation the UK came 20th, down two places from last year. The UK was ranked 53rd in salary and opportunity equality.
Richard Samans and Saadia Zahidi, the authors of the report said they hoped: “the report will serve as a call to action to governments to accelerate gender equality through bolder policymaking, to businesses to prioritise gender equality as a critical talent and moral imperative and to all of us to become deeply conscious of the choices we make every day that impact gender equality globally.”