Women working in organisations led by female CEOs face smaller pay gaps compared to those working under male leadership, a new study shows. However, women still earn less than men overall.
The analysis, Closing the Gap? 2025: Gender Pay Gaps in UK Organisations Active in Global Health, conducted by independent thinktank Global 50/50, examined 45 companies, non-profits, consultancies, faith-based and philanthropic organisations.
Researchers found that organisations led by women CEOs for at least five of the past eight years report a narrower gender pay gap and may close the gap sooner than organisations led by men.
“Organisations led by women CEOs are linked to smaller average gender pay gaps,” said Dr Lynsey Robinson, Global 50/50’s health sector lead.
“While progress is slow and uneven, these findings show that women leaders may help address structural pay inequalities.”she added
The report’s findings have been welcomed by global women leaders. Dr Catherine Kyobutungi, executive director of the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), said: “Who leads determines whose priorities shape the agenda. When women lead, accountability and inclusion follow.”
Amie Batson, President of WomenLift Health, added: “Pay equity is a leadership choice. When women lead, pay gaps shrink and organisations perform better. Investing in women leaders builds workplaces where everyone can thrive.”
Global 50/50’s report shows that organisations led by women report pay gaps on average 4.3 percent smaller than those led by men.
Yet, in the UK overall, women still earned just 87p for every £1 paid to men in 2024, effectively working for free from 14 November to the end of the year.
Dr Ravi Verma, executive director of the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW Asia), said: “Transparency is power. Organisations that measure, report, and act on pay gaps take a stand for fairness. Data must drive policies to break barriers to women’s leadership and ensure genuine workplace equality.”
The report also highlights the low number of women in leadership. Less than 40 percent of non-profits and just 22 percent of private companies in global health are led by women, showing that gender inequality remains entrenched in decision-making roles.
Global 50/50 urges mandatory pay gap reporting worldwide. While UK companies with more than 250 staff are legally required to report, only 35 other countries have similar mechanisms.
Dr Magda Robalo Correia e Silva, interim executive director of Women in Global Health, said:“Mandatory reporting helps close pay gaps and provides guidance for organisations. Pay transparency should become the norm, not the exception.”
The findings were released on UK Equal Pay Day, 22 November, highlighting the urgent need for gender justice in workplaces worldwide.