Male staff at Louth County Council paid ‘slightly’ more than females, new report reveals

By Olivia Ryan, The Drogheda Independent

Female staff at Louth County Council are paid, on average, slightly less than their male counterparts, according to the 2025 Gender Pay Gap Report.

The council has just published the annual report which measures the average pay difference between men and women across the organisation, regardless of role or seniority.

The report reveals a gender pay gap of 1.03%, indicating that male employees are paid, on average, slightly more than their female counterparts.

But it was highlighted in the report that ‘gender pay gap is not the same as equal pay.” as “employment equality legislation provides for equal pay for like work. All male and female employees in the local government sector are paid equally for work that is the same or similar or for work of equal value.”

Crucially, it stressed that the gender pay gap “does not mean that females are paid less than males for doing the same job, but it does show that, on average, men occupy more higher paid roles than women at the council.

Approximately 25% of all Louth County Council employees on 30 June were working part-time. Of these, 39% were male and 61% female.

"Factors influencing the pattern of part-time employees across the organisation include a range of flexible work options for part-time work, which, while available to all employees, have a greater take-up of in administrative and clerical job categories. Another factor is job categories where part-time work is an occupational feature of the role, including the fire service, library service, community wardens and caretakers for burial grounds.”

The report reveals the council’s Senior Management Team is 58% male and 42% female, which the local authority says “is in line with our workforce demographics of 59% male and 41% female. "

Commenting on the publication of the report, David Conway, Chief Executive of Louth County Council, said: “Publishing our gender pay gap data helps to reinforce our focus on addressing workplace barriers to equality, supporting diversity and creating an open and inclusive workplace community.

“At Louth County Council, we strive to promote and sustain an inclusive organisational culture which provides equality of opportunity and where every employee feels valued. This is reflected in one of our core values, which is equality and inclusiveness.

“Many equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives are already in place, and this is reflected in the figures; however, we it recognise that improvement is always possible, and we will continue to monitor trends in this area over the coming years and to work with our colleagues across the sector to share best practice.”