Median hourly earnings and pay difference between hourly earnings of employees by ethnicity in Wales and the UK

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Next update expected:April 2027

Updates

14th May 2026
Dataset first published.

Main information

Designation
Official statistics
Data provider
Office for National Statistics (ONS)
Data source
Annual Population Survey (APS)
Time period covered
January 2014 to December 2025

Overview

Summary of dataset and variables

This table provides estimates of the median hourly earnings and pay differences between the median hourly earnings of employees aged 16 and over by ethnicity in Wales and the UK.

Data collection or calculation

White includes respondents in England, Wales and Scotland identifying themselves as 'White -Gypsy or Irish Traveller' and respondents in Scotland identifying themselves as 'White -Polish'.

The Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic category includes the follow ethnic groups: Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Chinese, Any other Asian Background, Black/African/Caribbean/Black British, Mixed/Multiple ethnic groups, Other ethnic group. The Other ethnic group includes respondents in Northern Ireland identifying themselves as 'Irish Traveller' and respondents in all UK countries identifying themselves as 'Arab'.

The Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic group categories are combined as sample sizes are insufficient to report at a lower level.

Ethnicity pay difference percentages are calculated by dividing the difference in median hourly earnings between White and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic employees by the median hourly earnings for White employees.

Employees in this analysis refers to all employees, including those who work full-time or part-time.

Statistical quality

The data are sample-based estimates derived from a survey and therefore subject to differing degrees of sampling variability, i.e. the true value for any measure lies in a differing range about the estimated value. This range or sampling variability increases as the detail in the data increases, for example individual local authority data would be subject to higher variability than Wales data.

The APS has seen a fall in sample sizes over recent years and the survey has not yet been reweighted to latest population estimates. It is still appropriate to use these statistics, however users should note the increased uncertainty around estimates derived from the APS. At a national level, estimates continue to provide a reasonable indication of trends for Wales, however estimates for smaller geographies or population sub-groups are less reliable.

For further information on the quality of APS labour market estimates and our advice on using these statistics, please see our latest Labour market statistics (Annual Population Survey) release.

Rounding applied

Pay difference percentages are rounded to one decimal place.

Related reports

Published by

Organisation
Welsh Government
Contact email
labourmarket.stats@gov.wales