The wage gap between women and men in Castile-La Mancha is around 15%, according to the results of research carried out by the Equality Chair of the University of Castile-La Mancha (UCLM) and presented this Friday in Toledo. The study … reflects an average difference in annual income of four thousand euros, since the average salary of women is between 22,000 euros compared to nearly 26,000 euros for men. The data was disclosed during a conference held at the Faculty of Legal and Social Sciences, organized within the framework of the Equality Chair of the University of Castile-La Mancha.
In statements before the opening ceremony, the rector’s delegate for equality policies, María Encarnación Gil Pérez, explained that the report offers “a precise vision of salary inequalities in the region”. Despite the progress and regulatory improvements recorded in recent years, he stressed that the wage gap “is still present and requires sustained measures”because it is a structural phenomenon that cannot be corrected automatically.
Gil detailed that inequality responds to several factors linked to the labor market and social organization. Among them, he cited sectoral segregation, types of contractbias and the schedulesas well as the impact of care taskswhich continue to mainly affect women. In this context, he stressed that the service sectors, cleaning or reception These are the ones with the most pronounced differences due to their salary structures and working conditions.
The university director emphasized that the study combines an economic and legal approachwhich makes it possible to identify areas in which imbalances persist and to put forward proposals for improvement. In this sense, he defended that “our job is to generate knowledge and transfer it to institutions and social agents to guide decision-making.”
At the opening of the day, the Minister of Equality of Castile-La Mancha, Sara Simón, spoke, emphasizing that wage inequality “continues to be “one of the main injustices affecting women” There therefore still remain “significant challenges” to overcome to achieve real and effective equality.
However, Simón emphasized that over the last decade Castilla-La Mancha managed to reduce the wage gap by five pointsan advance that she attributed to the promotion of women’s employment policies and the sustained decline in the female unemployment rate. He warned, however, that caregiving imbalances persist, as the majority of time off to care for sons, daughters or other family members and the majority of part-time work continues to go to women.
While waiting for a law which will arrive in 2026
In this context, the advisor expressed confidence that the future regional law aimed at reducing the wage gap could become a reality in 2026. “I hope that at the end of next year we can talk about an approved law”he declared, while assuring that he will work to make this happen. As explained, the delay in processing responds to the desire that the standard is “very consensual” and transversal to the entire regional governmentwhich required the participation of different focus groups and review of the project by various departments.
Simón defended that “we prefer to do things slowly, but to do them well”, and reiterated the need to move forward in co-responsibility as one of the fundamental axes for reducing salary inequalities. In this sense, he considers collaboration with UCLM “essential for designing policies based on knowledge and research”.
The day ended with an awards ceremony aimed at recognizing research initiatives, awareness-raising and the promotion of equality within the university community. Academic and institutional leaders are also participating in the meeting, including the Dean of Legal and Social Sciences, Alicia Valmaña; the director of the Equality and Diversity Unit, María Rodríguez, and the director of the Castilla-La Mancha Women’s Institute, Teresa López.
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