GENDER pay gap figures have revealed that female employees at Wyre Forest District Council earn 10 per cent more on average than their male colleagues.

Figures from March 31, 2018 show the council's workforce as a whole was made up of 53 per cent women and 47 per cent men, compared with 52 per cent women and 48 per cent men on the same date the previous year.

The make-up of the senior corporate leadership remains the same as 2017 - 60 per cent women and 40 per cent men - as does the gender breakdown of the top 20 senior service managers, which is 71 per cent women and 29 per cent men.

Statistics for employees in the lower quartile were 71 per cent male and 29 per cent female, which the council says is due to the largely male make-up of its frontline workforce.

The figures also suggest that female employees earn between 9 and 14 per cent more than the average male worker at the council.

Cabinet member for resources Councillor Nathan Desmond said: “Once again our figures underline our commitment to foster talent and with a high proportion of senior positions filled by women we continue to provide a positive role model for other local employers.

“The gender pay gap has nothing to do with equal pay. The council has ensured for many years that jobs of equal weight and value receive the same rate of pay.

“We will continue to offer equal opportunity for all employees, irrespective of their gender, so we can continue to offer the best services to residents, businesses and visitors.”

Government rules require all public sector employers to publish an annual snapshot of their workforce’s earnings to highlight any disparity in pay between the average earnings of male and female staff.