Occupational segregation has been identified as a significant contributor to the gender pay gap as women are highly concentrated in lower paid jobs or part-time occupations, which tend to be lower paid.
There is a body of evidence, most recently in “Shaping a Fairer Future”, the report of the Women and Work Commission, which indicates that occupational segregation narrows the pool of talent that employers can choose from, which means that not everyone’s skills are being utilised to the full. Government are committed to taking action on the recommendations and will issue an action plan later in the year.