Almost four million women nationwide will gain from the new National Living Wage, according to a report by the Resolution Foundation.
A significant number of male employees (around 2.3 million) will also see their pay increase, the think tank’s research indicates.
“Because of their concentration among the low paid, women will account for the majority of the winners,” said the foundation’s policy analyst Conor D’Arcy.
“This will have a positive – though modest – effect on the gender pay gap, and will particularly help those working part-time.”
When the numbers are broken down by geographic regions, the Midlands, Wales and Yorkshire & the Humber will be the main beneficiaries of the new wage floor.
The National Living Wage was the showpiece announcement of the recent July Budget.
A new statutory minimum wage of £7.20 an hour will be introduced in April next year and there will be a further rise by the end of the decade.
The policy hasn’t received unanimous approval, with some worried what impact the changes will have on SMEs and certain sectors – the care industry is thought to be particularly vulnerable.
Trade unions meanwhile are worried that any benefits may be offset by changes elsewhere.
The TUC’s general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Despite the pay gains, many of the lowest paid workers will still be left poorer overall because of steep cuts to their tax credits.”
