The widening pay gap between men and women in Qatar is the focus of the third in a five-part series we are producing this week based on data from the 2011 Sustainable Development Indicators report. The report was released earlier this month by the Qatar Statistics Authority and contains various social, economic and environmental indicators. We’ll bring you some of the most interesting findings. Here’s part one on crime and part two on mobile phone usage. 

While wages for women working in Qatar were almost on par with men in 2001, the gender pay gap grew to an astounding 22.7 percent last year, the 2011 Sustainable Development Indicators report shows.

Both Qatari and non-Qatar women are affected by the disparity, with many being paid 25 to 50 percent less than men, despite the fact that their working hours are comparable – and sometimes higher, the Labor Force Sample Survey 2011 found.

The development report attributes the widening gulf in part to the social allowances afforded men as household heads – including housing, travel allotments, etc – which female employees less commonly receive.

But it forecasts a reduction in the pay gap as female workforce participation increases. Government measures to promote women’s employment and education will also play a role, the report said.

Here’s the document:

Thoughts?