The gender pay gap has long been a headline issue for campaigners and businesses alike. But new data reveals a deeper and more persistent financial divide - the gender wealth gap. While pay inequality affects women month to month, the wealth gap shapes their entire financial future, from savings to retirement. For brand marketers and strategists, this underreported disparity raises critical questions about long-term equity, representation, and economic empowerment.

📊 Supporting Stats

The gender pay gap currently stands at 13%, according to the Women’s Budget Group.
The gender wealth gap is wider at 21%, with men holding an average of £378,079 in total wealth compared to women’s £300,017.
There’s a 43% pension wealth gap, with men owning nearly £67,000 more than women on average.
Single mothers have the lowest wealth of all UK household types: just £117,405, compared to £269,627 for working-age women in couples with children.
The top 10% of UK households now control 57% of total wealth.

(Sources: Women’s Budget Group, Fawcett Society)

✅ Pros - What’s Working?

Increased awareness: Public discourse around pay and wealth inequality is growing, pushing institutions to investigate and address root causes.
Policy attention: Think tanks like the Women’s Budget Group are helping quantify the issue, providing foundations for change.
Employer transparency: Mandatory pay gap reporting is pushing some brands toward more equitable hiring and promotion practices.

⚠️ Cons - What Are the Limitations?

Wealth is harder to track and address than income: It includes pensions, property, investments - often invisible in annual reporting.
Unpaid care work skews outcomes: Women still carry out nearly 50% more unpaid domestic labour than men, limiting earning and investment potential.
Legal frameworks lag behind: Wealth division upon separation often leaves women more vulnerable, especially where assets are jointly held.

🔍 Opportunities - Where Can Brands Add Value?

Financial empowerment campaigns: Brands in finance, retail and tech can build trust by offering women-centric tools, education and planning support.
Representation in advertising: Move beyond aspirational imagery to reflect the real financial challenges and goals of different life stages - especially single mothers.
Support for carers: Brands and employers can create practical solutions that address the economic cost of unpaid caregiving.

🧱 Challenges - What Barriers Persist?

Structural inequalities: Wealth accumulation is shaped by decades of systemic bias, from property ownership to pension access.
Slow cultural shifts: Despite policy strides, expectations around gender roles in caregiving and work persist.
Limited brand accountability: Few brands audit their impact on wealth-building opportunities across the consumer and employment journey.

📝 Key Takeouts

The gender wealth gap (21%) is significantly wider than the pay gap (13%) and has long-term implications.
Pension inequality is a major driver, compounded by unpaid care responsibilities.
Single mothers are among the most financially vulnerable groups in the UK.
Brands can’t ignore wealth inequality if they’re serious about inclusion, equity, and consumer trust.