SCOTLAND’S gender pay gap growing for the third year is “utterly unacceptable,” Labour said today.

The party hit out as the Office for National Statistics revealed that the pay gap between male and female full-time employees in Scotland had widened from 2 per cent in 2024 to 3.5 per cent this year.

Data collection first began in 1997, and over that time, the trend has seen it narrow at Britain-wide and Scottish levels.

But since 2023, Scotland has seen the trend go into reverse.

Scottish Labour’s Dame Jackie Baillie said: “The SNP has taken its eye off the ball.

“It is utterly unacceptable that women are earning less for the same hours, but things are getting worse instead of better.

“We need to redouble our efforts to embed equality across our economy and society and ensure women get a fair deal.”

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: “Scotland continues to have a narrower gender pay gap for full-time employees than the UK.

“Supporting and empowering women and girls to reach their full potential is at the heart of the Scottish government’s economic growth ambitions.”