BRITISH women may have had equal voting rights since 1928, but they may have to wait another 98 years for parity in pay, research has found.

While the salaries of female executives are increasing faster than those of their male counterparts, it will take until 2109 to close the gap if pay grows at current rates, the Chartered Management Institute reveals.

The research shows that male executives continue to be paid more than women for the same roles, earning an average of £42,441 ($65,000) compared with £31,895. The £10,546 gender pay gap is an increase on the £10,031 from the same study last year, despite women's salaries having grown by 2.4 per cent and men's 2.1 per cent in the 12 months to February 2011.

Mike Petrook, head of public affairs at the CMI, said: ''Our reaction to it taking almost 100 years to get any form of parity is incredible alarm. It is a position we shouldn't be finding ourselves in. It brings with it issues of discrimination and loss of skills, as women are more prepared to walk [from jobs] than men if they are not getting what they want.'' The data shows that 4.2 per cent of women resigned during the period, compared with 3.6 per cent of men.

The figures, compiled from a poll of 34,158 British executives, were unveiled after a year in which the issues of female recruitment and remuneration have become increasingly high-profile.

In February, Lord Davies of Abersoch, who led an inquiry into male boardroom dominance, warned big British businesses to double the number of women in boardrooms to 25 per cent within five years or face government sanctions.

While Lord Davies faced criticism for not imposing a compulsory quota, recent figures suggest that the mere threat of punishment has pushed companies into action.

GUARDIAN