Women are closing the pay gap on men, according to new figures.
Although full-time women workers earned 31 per cent less than men during the last financial year - £18,531 compared to £24,236 - their annual wage increased by 1.5 per cent more.
The research by the Office of National Statistics found the average hourly and weekly earnings of full-time women also increased more, by 5.3 per cent and 5.1 per cent compared to 4.9 per cent and 4.3 per cent for men, respectively.
The average hourly rate of pay for all adults was £10.41 - £11.04 for men and £9.46 for women - and the weekly earnings for all employees stood at £328 - £416.60 for men and £245.30 for women.
The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, which is based on a one per cent sample of employees in employment, found the average annual salary for all full-time employees on adult rates was £22,060.
The research showed only 1.1 per cent of the total UK jobs paid less than the minimum wage in the year to April 2004.
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