Women are now the breadwinners in one in four couples
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Women are now the breadwinner in one out of four relationships, The Telegraph can reveal.
Analysis shows that the proportion of wives earning more than their husbands has risen from 20pc to 25pc over the past decade.
The data shows an increasing shift in traditional earning dynamics between couples in which the man has a higher salary.
It comes as the gender pay gap sits at a record low of 13.1pc, as of April 2024, down from 14.2pc the previous year.
Dr Eliza Filby, historian and author on generational changes in society, said: 'Women are out-earning and out-educating men in their 20s, and so it's no surprise that they are increasingly the breadwinner. We are also seeing the decline of working-class men's wages.'
She highlighted how the financial dynamics of relationships have changed from the days of one parent staying at home looking after the children, as this is no longer a viable option.
She said: 'We are seeing the rise of prioritising financial compatibility in relationships. For Gen Z, this is increasingly important. This generation grew up with increasing divorce, increasing dual incomes and rising costs with respect to housing, childcare and living. You cannot live on one income alone.'
There are certain professions in which women typically earn more than men, such as physiotherapy, gardening and counselling, according to the Official For National Statistics (ONS).
But the biggest earner for women is working as an energy plant operative, overseeing the generation and distribution of electricity, where you can get paid 25pc more than a male counterpart.
Female social and humanities scientists may often be the breadwinner, as they tend to earn 21pc more than men, according to the ONS.
On the other end of the spectrum is the world of finance, where men still earn 28pc more as managers and directors.
Female civil servants in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) earn on average 91pc of what men earn. Women are a minority in the MoD, and few top earners are female.
The rise of women bringing in the main income could be because young women earn better salaries than young men. Earlier this year, it was revealed that 16- to 24-year-old women earn £2,200 more than men on average.
This is a drastic reversal from two years earlier, when the average young man earned £1,000 per year more than women, according to the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ).
The CSJ said the shift was the result of a 'crisis' for boys and young men that is seeing them fall behind in education and the workforce.
In the first three months of this year, the unemployment rate for men was 4.4pc, while it was 4.1pc for women, data company Statista has found.
Last year, Mel Stride, the former works and pensions secretary, blamed porn and video games for the increase in jobless men.
Women are still more likely to go to university than men, data from the Government shows. The UCAS acceptance rate for 18-year-olds is 41pc for women, compared with 30pc for men.
Women also make up a greater proportion of the students at Russell Group universities, 24 of the UK's leading institutions. Nearly 64pc of King's College London students are women, according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
Since 2017, any company with 250 or more employees on a specific date each year must report their gender pay gap data.
The gender pay gap gradually increases with age, rising from 9.7pc for 30- to 39-year-olds to 18.9pc for 50- to 59-year-olds.
Dr Filby said: 'We are seeing a trend of see-saw marriages, in which the majority earner switches between the man and the woman because of promotions and pay rises, but also inheritance.'
PwC has previously highlighted a 'motherhood penalty' which widens the gender pay gap after women take time off for work during pregnancy.
James Neave, of hiring platform Adzuna, said: 'It's fantastic to see more women stepping into the role of primary earner in a relationship, as this suggests we are making good strides towards achieving pay parity.
'In recent years, many forward-thinking employers have taken steps to help close their gender pay gaps, including implementing flexible working and offering female-centric work perks, such as childcare support and enhanced maternity and paternity leave – all of which help level the playing field.'
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