The male gender pay gap: why boys and young men may have become a victim of inattentional blindness

This isn’t something I’d ever thought I’d ever write about – the male pay gap.

For years now, we’ve heard of the gender pay gap, flagging the significant disparity between men and women’s pay, pensions and overall wealth.

But, in fighting for women's equality over the last hundred years or so, has society somehow left young men and boys behind?

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A sobering report from The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) – Lost Boys: State of the Nation – reveals young women are now consistently earning more than men of the same age.

For the first time in 2022, pay for women aged 16-24 in full-time work was higher than young men of the same socioeconomic group. Even after higher education, younger women still bag higher pay.

But, this isn't about women earning more and men wanting their earning power back. This is about boys falling so far behind in almost every aspect of their life, that it has ultimately created a male pay gap, one that is tagged to many other issues young men face.

The report shows men lag behind in almost every aspect of their life – education, employment, health – and they are more likely to be involved in crime, have mental health issues and even become victims of abuse.

“Boys and girls no longer walk the same path from childhood to adulthood,” the report states.

And it reveals many glaring truths. While society tells you “boys will be boys”, the harsh reality is that we’ve brushed boys and young men's needs aside.

The CSJ found that more than four in ten agree that society does not value traditional masculine values, such as courage, resilience and competitiveness. Half of 18-24 men say that men are too often shown by the media as “a bit pathetic”.

“We must stop seeing masculinity as a problem to be solved and start seeing it as a strength to be nurtured. Strength, resilience, responsibility – these are not traits to be suppressed but harnessed for good,” CSJ CEO, Andy Cook, says.

The male pay and employment gap – why does it matter?

CSJ’s data shows women aged 16-24 make an average 10 times more than men the same age.

In July to September 2024, 15% of men aged 16-24 were not in education, employment or training, compared to 11% of women.

The gender pay gap has now reversed for those working full-time between the ages of 16-24, CSJ states.

There has also been a decline in what we consider traditional male industries, which has impacted men’s ability to be employed.

“The predominantly male industries of manufacturing, agriculture and construction used to contribute cumulatively over 40% of UK output in 1970, but amounted to just 16% of UK GDP in 2023," the CSJ said.

This decline, according to the report, has led to large parts of the country experiencing stagnant growth, decreasing productivity and fewer job opportunities.

“For men, work has historically been a core component of identity, status and purpose. When opportunities disappear, the consequences – ranging from mental health struggles and social isolation to relational fracturing – can be catastrophic," CSJ said.

Lost boys: has society let young men down?

As I write this, I think of my two boys. I do not have a daughter to compare with, but it was very clear speaking to other parents, the development of boys was somewhat slower.

In 2023/24, teachers’ assessments of children’s development at the end of the early years foundation stage (age five) shows that 75% of girls achieved a good level of development. Only 60% of boys achieved this milestone. This gap has now widened for three consecutive years.

In my personal experience, very few initiatives exist to help push boys forward. They have simply been left to it.

The report also flags the lack of male role models, and those children deemed fatherless are at higher risk. But I would argue that even when fathers are present, overall, boys lack male role models. The majority of teachers are female – around 76%, according to government data.

As soon as boys step into the education system, the male role model is absent for pretty much all of their early years within the education system. This continues as they get older – while girls are being looked after, who is watching out for the boys and ensuring they have a place in society, too?

Sean Soulsby, CEO of the Children’s Foundation, states: “I think that in today’s society it is difficult to understand what it means to be a man and navigate a very different world to that of 20 or 30 years ago. Little support is given to young men, in particular, to address and discuss this openly and safely… Knowing you are going to have a good job, money/future is key for anyone, but in particular young men. A lot of the issues of today stem from the uncertainty of where young men see themselves in the future and a feeling that they don’t quite ‘fit’ or ‘belong’.”

And worryingly, a lack of role models for boys means they end up isolated - something former England captain Gareth Southgate recently spoke about. And if you've seen the Netflix hit Adolescence, you'll see how easily boys can fall under the wrong influence via social media.

If I was to put this report to my children, they’d probably respond saying: “It ain't that deep”. But the fact is, it is deep. Does our focus on girls mean we simply forgot about the boys? We can bring up great men, but to do so, we can no longer leave them behind. We’ve fought for women, but who is standing up for the boys?

Let me know what you think.