Since 2010, women in their 30s are earning £4,000 less annually, according to the latest statistics

The Office for National Statistics reports a decline in the median salary for full-time workers aged 30 to 39, from £37,899 in April 2010 to £33,740 in April 2023. Adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index, this results in an average shortfall of £4,159 yearly or £350 monthly.

The Labour Party attributes this downturn to stagnant wages, slow economic growth, and inadequate support for women's participation in the workforce. Anneliese Dodds, the Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, criticizes the Conservative government for economic shortcomings and highlights the financial struggles of women in their 30s, including high living costs and limited job flexibility.

According to research from the House of Commons Library, the wage situation is particularly dire for London women of all ages, who fare over £4,300 worse per year, with those in the South East and Yorkshire and the Humber regions also over £2,000 behind annually.

These revelations emerge during Equal Pay Day, highlighting the persistent wage disparity where women effectively earn less than men over the year. Notably, ONS data also indicates a widening gender pay gap in most age groups from 2022 to 2023, with a significant increase among those aged 30-39.

In response, Conservative Women's Minister Maria Caulfield counters Labour's accusations, stressing the Conservative Party's support for women through increased employment, entrepreneurial opportunities, and efforts to close the gender pay gap. Caulfield emphasizes reforms, including childcare and tax cuts aimed at empowering women financially, and cautions against Labour's borrowing plans, which she claims would exacerbate inflation and tax burdens.