'Gendered notions of nursing fail to match the reality of our complex profession'

The World Health Organization has published a new report looking at the gender pay gap in the health and care sector on a global scale. It analyses data from 54 countries and shows, on average, female health care workers earn approximately 20% less than their male counterparts. Where the issue is worst, the pay gap is approximately 24%. 

The report considers the two main reasons for this to be the "motherhood gap" which is the pay gap between mothers and non-mothers and the fact that predominately feminised sectors routinely pay less. The RCN’s own research found that women make up 90% of all nurses in the UK but fill less than a third of senior positions and earn on average 17% less than men.

RCN General Secretary & Chief Executive Pat Cullen said: “This report is a stark reminder of the work that remains to be done. Across the globe, health and care is underfunded and professionals face very real discrimination in the form of a gender pay gap as much as 24%.

“For nursing in particular, gendered notions fail to match the reality of a complex profession defined by technical, emotional and cognitive skills of the highest level. 

“These perceptions were shattered during the pandemic as people saw the realities and complexities of modern nursing, yet this fundamentally unfair pay imbalance persists.”

Meanwhile, a second report by Women in Global Health estimates that there are six million women working in underpaid or unpaid health roles across the world, effectively propping up formal, funded health services. 

“We support the call for more investment in health and care globally, specifically nursing,” Pat added. “In the UK, this must start with an immediate pay rise for all nursing staff and action to address the gaping inequalities found at every level.”