Women in Ghana are paid 34.2 percent less than men, according to data from the first quarter of the 2122 Annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey (AHIES). The estimated gender wage gap adjusts for age approximate years of work experience, highest level of education attended, main occupation, industry, employment sector, and region of residence.
The gender wage gap is lowest among paid workers with tertiary education or more where women earn 12.7 percent less than their male counterparts. The wage gap is highest among workers with basic education (60.1%) followed by workers with no education (54.0%).
When comparing sectors of employment, the gender wage gap is highest in the private informal sector where women are paid 58.7 percent less than men. This is followed by the private formal sector with a wage gap of 29.9 percent. The public sector, where women are paid 10.5 percent less than men has the lowest gender wage gap.
Among the population aged 36 to 60 years, women are paid 33.4 percent less than men. a wage differential almost 30 percentage points higher than for the age group 15 to 35 years where women were paid 30.7 percent less than their male counterparts.
International Equal Pay Day is commemorated annually on 18th September to promote efforts towards the achievement of equal pay for work of equal value.
This data is a stark reminder of the gender pay gap that persists in Ghana, even among workers with the same level of education and experience. The wage gap is particularly high in the private informal sector, where women are often working in low-paid and insecure jobs.
The government of Ghana has made some commitments to addressing the gender pay gap, such as the National Gender Policy and the Labour Act, 2003. However, more needs to be done to ensure that women are paid equally for work of equal value.
Here are some things that can be done to address the gender pay gap in Ghana:
- Enforce the existing laws and regulations on equal pay.
- Increase awareness of the gender pay gap and its causes.
- Promote gender pay transparency and accountability.
- Invest in education and training for women to help them develop the skills needed for higher-paying jobs.
- Support women’s entry into and advancement in male-dominated sectors.
By taking these steps, we can help to create a more equitable society where women are paid fairly for their work.