The BBC has reduced its mean gender pay gap from 10.7 to 8.4 percent and its median gap from 9.3 to 7.6 percent, the U.K. public broadcaster said Wednesday.
The news of the improvements for the fiscal year ended March come about a year after the first publication of the BBC’s pay for on-air talent paid more than 150,000 pounds ($198,000). Last year’s disclosures caused debate and controversy, especially focused on the gender pay gap.
The BBC said that about a quarter of the improvement came thanks to the combination of BBC Studios and commercial arm BBC Worldwide. Beyond that, it said that “the reduction has been achieved through initiatives, such as addressing specific pay issues, introducing a simpler job framework and repositioning people within their pay ranges.”
Separate figures show that women now make up a bigger proportion of the BBC’s leadership team than ever before, with 43.3 percent of positions held by women, up from 42.1 percent last year. The BBC wants to increase this figure to 50 percent by 2020.
“The BBC must do everything it can to ensure that everyone working for it can fulfill their potential,” said BBC director general Tony Hall. “Closing the gender pay gap is a priority for the BBC. We must lead the way. Today’s figures show we are making good progress, but we are not there yet and that is why we will keep pressing to deliver change.”
Said the BBC: “Our official gender pay gap report for 2017/18 shows significant progress, but we remain committed to going further and faster than any other organization in leading the way on gender pay.”
