IRELAND ranks fifth in the world when it comes to equal pay for women, a report has revealed.
The World Economic Forum research puts Ireland just behind the progressive Nordic countries of Iceland, Norway, Finland and Sweden in fifth place.
The WEF report looked at 145 countries worldwide; with Britain placing 18th on the list.
Ireland climbed three places on the annual list from eighth in 2014 – having slipped down the list from fifth in 2012.
The research examined equality between men and women under a number of parameters including economic participation, access to education and representation in politics.
“More women than men are enrolled in universities in nearly 100 countries but women hold the majority of senior roles in only a handful of countries,” said the WEF's Saadia Zahidi.
“Companies and governments need to implement new policies to prevent this continued loss of talent and instead leverage it for boosting growth and competitiveness.”
Despite Ireland’s high placing on the list, the gender gap in salaries still exists worldwide.
Overall, the research found that the worldwide average full-time salary for working women is $11,102 a year (£7,281) - approximately half the male average of $20,554 (£13,486).
Projections put the gender gap as closing entirely in 118 years – by 2133.
See More: Equal Pay, Featured, Gender Gap
