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Career women earn less than men

LONDON: Career-women earn up to 241,000 pounds ($400,000) less than their male colleagues during their working lives simply because they are women, according to a government study released on Monday.

The research, commissioned by the ministries of employment and women, found females with degrees and professional careers earned 143,000 pounds ($230,000) less than males during their career.

Women with a lesser degree sacrificed an average 241,000 pounds ($400,000), while women who left school without a degree earned almost 200,000 pounds ($320,000) less during their working lives.

The study, conducted by the London School of Economics, backed up earlier figures from the Equal Opportunities Commission which indicated women get paid 80 percent of the average hourly male earnings.

"This research shows women are paying a heavy economic price for just being female," said Minister for Women Baroness Jay.

In terms of equal pay, the study found the UK came 10th out of 15 European countries surveyed.