Parliamentary staff of colour earn £2,000 less than white colleagues, study suggests | Income inequality

Research reviewed by the Guardian suggests that the race and gender pay gap among parliamentary staff means people of color earn on average £2,000 less than their white colleagues each year.

Parliamentary staff with a range of characteristics protected under equality legislation are more likely to suffer pay inequalities, a study to be published this week will say.

The research claims that women earn on average £1,000 less each year than men in similar jobs, while disabled workers earn £646 less than their able-bodied counterparts.

The findings are outlined in a report to be published by the GMB union on Wednesday and are based on data collected after the 2024 general election. The union will say that “a large number” of employees described parliament as a “very white and middle-class” environment.

The paper is expected to add that workers with more than one protected characteristic are most affected by pay inequality; data shows that women of color in parliamentary jobs earn on average £6,000 less per year than white men.

Transgender, non-binary and gay staff will also be said to face pay discrimination and that constituency caseworkers are underpaid compared to their Westminster colleagues despite being on the “front line” of parliamentary work. These pay gaps appear to have widened over time, suggesting that those with protected characteristics progress more slowly in their parliamentary careers.

The union said it analyzed a sample of 174 cases from staff in the House of Commons and House of Lords who agreed to share pay and equality information.

The full extent of pay inequality among parliamentary staff has long remained unclear because they are employed directly by MPs or members of the Lords, rather than by the parliament itself. Only employers with more than 250 employees are required to publish gender pay gap data. There is currently no legal requirement to publish information on pay disparities based on race and other protected characteristics such as disability, although the government plans to introduce this.

The report is expected to recommend a range of measures aimed at addressing pay discrimination, including mandatory pay gap reporting.

The Guardian understands the GMB data does not show how MPs from each of the major parties compare, as part of the union’s desire to present the research as “apolitical”.

The GMB report adds that only 17% of staff in its sample who raised concerns about pay or discrimination felt their issues were adequately addressed. The union said it had found evidence that many MPs were “not taking even minimal action” to address pay equity issues.

Kartik Sawhney, senior parliamentary investigator and racing officer for the GMB union’s parliamentary branch, said the report’s findings were “stark and inexcusable”.

“Parliament should be a model of equality, not a mirror of inequality. Talented, hard-working staff are being left behind because of their gender, race or disability. This is unacceptable. We need stronger data tracking, fairer systems and structural change to end this injustice.”

Holly Williamson, the union’s parliamentary equality officer, added: “This report confirms what many of us already knew: women, people of color and disabled colleagues work just as hard but are paid less. The most emotionally demanding roles, often held by those from protected groups, are also the lowest paid. Parliament must do better.”