Here's some more bleak news surrounding the gender pay gap. Women earn less than men at every stage of their career, according to new analysis.

A study by the UK's Trade Union Centre has found that although the pay gap begins as soon as women start working, it widens as female employees get older and reaches its worst when they turn 50.

At this age, women earn £8,504 less a year than men and are cumulatively £85,040 worse off over the course of the next decade, reports the Guardian.

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An 18-year-old woman in a full time job earned an average of £1,395 a year less than her male colleagues and by the time she reaches the age of 30, the gap widens to £3,000.

Frances O'Grady, the TUC general secretary, addressed the growing problem and said more needs to be done to prevent the "pay penalty" female employees face, particularly after having children.

'Women suffer a huge pay penalty over the course of their careers, which peaks in their 50s,' she said. 'At current rates of progress it will take decades for women to achieve pay parity with men.

'Having children has starkly different effects on men's and women's pay, with women earning less after having kids, and men earning more,' O'Grady added. 'Far more needs to be done to help mums get back into decent, well-paid jobs after they have kids – and to encourage dads to take on their share of caring responsibilities.'

Data from the Office of National Statistics has shown that the gender pay gap is currently at its lowest (9.4% for full-time workers), but the difference of hourly pay between men and women in full-time employment is closing so slowly that it amounts to 2.5p a year.

According to a report from financial consultancy Deloitte, this means the gender pay gap won't end until 2069 in the UK, 99 years after the implementation of the 1970 Equal Pay Act.

It's a depressing thought, and one which only highlights how long we'll have to wait before these startling examples of gender inequality disappear.