White working-class women are Britain’s lowest-paid demographic, earning an average of just £13,300 a year, according to new research from the Sutton Trust.
The charity’s report found that women from disadvantaged white backgrounds take home 41 per cent less than the national average income.
No other ethnic or socio-economic group in Britain earns less, with the gap between white working-class women and the next lowest-paid demographic amounting to almost £2,000 annually.
The Sutton Trust defined working-class individuals as those who were eligible for free school meals during childhood.
Researchers concluded that poor educational outcomes combined with a lack of opportunities in some parts of the country have left many trapped in long-term cycles of disadvantage.
The report also highlighted a pronounced earnings gap between men and women from disadvantaged white backgrounds.
White working-class men earn around 15 per cent less than the national average, creating the largest gender pay gap recorded among any ethnic group in Britain.
Differences in earnings also emerge when comparing disadvantaged white workers with those from other communities.
White working-class women are Britain’s lowest-paid group earning £13,300 a year, Sutton Trust finds
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A white man from a disadvantaged background earns 17 per cent less than an Indian man from a similar socio-economic background.
The disparity is greater among women, with white working-class women earning 35 per cent less than Indian women from equivalent backgrounds.
The report identified several reasons for these differences, including the concentration of women in lower-paid industries and the impact of family responsibilities, which can often lead to part-time work or more flexible employment arrangements.
The authors argued that these outcomes are driven primarily by entrenched economic disadvantage rather than ethnicity.
Occupational patterns were also identified as a factor suppressing earnings
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They wrote: “The movement to address racism and improve diversity and inclusion across a range of institutions has been met with increasingly loud calls to focus on the ‘white working class’.
“While this has been highly polarised, ultimately, both arguments contain some truth. Ultimately, the reasons for this are more about socio-economic background.
“It is really the multi-generational poverty that is impacting them, not their skin colour.”
The research noted that sectors with a higher proportion of female workers generally offer lower levels of pay than industries dominated by men.
The report also said childcare responsibilities and family commitments can push women towards part-time roles or jobs with greater flexibility, which may reduce long-term earning potential.
Geographical inequality was highlighted as the most significant factor influencing life chances across Britain.
The Sutton Trust said northern cities such as Leeds and Sheffield provide fewer high-quality opportunities than London.
Differences between regions were particularly stark when comparing educational attainment and future earnings.
A young person growing up in Kensington and Bayswater in London achieves school results more than 75 per cent higher than someone raised in Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West, according to the analysis.
By the age of 28, that same Londoner is estimated to earn more than 50 per cent more than their counterpart from Newcastle.
Educational outcomes among disadvantaged white pupils also remain a concern.
The report found that pupils eligible for free school meals perform up to 40 per cent below the national average in academic attainment.