Working women are still lagging behind men in the pay scales, according to a new report from the Fawcett Society.

Investigations show that more than 25 years since the introduction of the Equal Pay Act, female workers are earning an average of just 80 per cent of men.

And because they earn so little, and around half of them work part time, many are not earning enough to qualify for state benefits.

The society concentrated its investigations on Kingston, where it found 49 per cent of female posts were full time, compared to 97 per cent of mens.

"That means women are less able to compensate for low hourly pay rates by working long hours, and women, more often than men, earn too little to qualify for many state benefits," a spokesman said.

The extensive survey also analysed hourly pay rates for various jobs. The lowest was hairdressers, the worst paid of which get just £3.10 per hour, although the average is £4.39.

Bar work pays roughly the same. The average hourly rate for all jobs equates to £7.30, bumped up by the wages of solicitors and accountants, the best paid of which are taking more than £20 an hour.

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