HC Deb 16 February 1972 vol 831 c127W
Mr. Bishop

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of part-time and full-time women workers; how many are married; what is the average number of hours worked per week and the average rates of pay, respec

Women, aged 18 and over Men aged 21 and over Full-time
Full-time Part-time
Number in employment (millions) 5.4 2.5 12.1
Average gross weekly earnings £17.8 £7.6 £32.3
Average weekly hours 37.4 19.7 42.9
Average gross hourly earnings 47.4p 38.3p 74.4p

Separate estimates for married women are not available from this survey. It is estimated from national insurance records that, out of the total of about 8.6 million female employees aged 15 and over in the working population in June, 1970, about 5.4 million were married.

The differences between average earnings of full-time men and women arise from differences in the range of jobs, overtime and shift working and so on, as well as differences in basic rates of pay where equal pay had not been introduced by April, 1971.

Region 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971
Northern 316 863 1,083 1,110 1,248 1,467 1,600 2,009
Yorkshire and Humberside 371 557 643 847 927 865 1,086 1,369
Eastern and Southern 847 1,142 1,282 1,388 1,567 1,744 1,955 1,985
London and South East 905 966 1,366 1,676 2,208 2,562 2,764 2,819
South West 311 550 709 970 983 945 1,021 862
Midlands 572 710 757 932 1,173 1,277 1,512 1,864
North West 382 730 1,057 1,329 1,441 1,570 1,971 2,086
Scotland 530 716 1,147 1,506 1,653 1,804 1,845 1,805
Totals 4,234 6,234 8,044 9,758 11,200 12,234 13,754 14,799

Note: The figures for 1968 onwards include trainees sponsored by their employers.