UK’s hospitality gender pay gap narrows by 2% in past year

05-Apr-2019 - Last updated on 05-Apr-2019 at 08:14 GMT

Capital gains: data indicates that the gender pay gap among London’s luxury and fine-dining establishments is below the national average for the sector

According to figures from luxury hospitality recruitment company The Change Group, the average salary of female hospitality staff has increased at a faster rate than male counterparts to narrow the sector’s gender pay gap.

Data from more than more than 300 hospitality businesses reported on 1 April has revealed that, on average, men working in the hospitality sector are paid 6.5% more than their female counterparts, decreasing from 8.5% in the past 12 months, according to The Change Group.

The recruiter highlighted that the pay gap in London’s top hospitality establishments has narrowed at a faster rate than the national average and now stands at 5.9% - though according to latest figures, male staff are still paid, on average, £1,784 more per annum than female counterparts in the capital.

All UK organisations with more than 250 employees are required to report their gender pay data to the Government, with 2019 the second year that companies have been required to publish information on differences.

Increase in female applicants

These figures have been revealed off the back of a surge in female applicants for hospitality jobs, according to The Change Group.

The recruiter noted that, in 2018, the number of women applying to work in the sector increased by almost half (45.4%) while the number of male employees seeking work declined by 12.6%.

Moreover, more than half (53.3%) of all applicants looking to work front of house were women.

According to The Change Group, salaries for female chefs and kitchen employees working back of house in venues in London increased by an average of 24.4% in 2018, or £6,136 in real terms versus 2017.

Meanwhile, back-of-house salaries for male employees increased by 13.3%, or £3,859 versus the previous year.

However, front-of-house salaries for female waiting staff and managers rose by 3.4% or £983 compared to a 7.1% decrease for male front-of-house staff – an average drop of £2,343 per annum.

More ‘tailor-made’ jobs

“The past year has seen strong growth in the number of women applying to work in hospitality, in their salaries as well as in their access to senior positions,” said Jim O’Brien, director of The Change Group.

“Our data indicates a gender pay gap among London’s luxury and fine-dining establishments of less than 6%, which is below the national average for the sector.

“Women represent a huge talent opportunity for the hospitality sector. We are seeing more and more companies tailor-make job opportunities to appeal to and attract further women, especially to work as chefs.

“The data demonstrates the successful efforts that top hospitality employers are making to smash the glass ceiling for female employees.”

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