If the gap continues closing at its current glacial pace, the TUC (Trades Union Congress) has warned it will take another 55 years for men and women to be paid the same average hourly wage in the UK. Fifty-five years. More than half a century away, far off towards the tail-end of the 21st century.

Who among us will still be plugging away at our careers in 55 years? I sincerely hope I won’t be – although given the government’s penchant for raising the retirement age for women, I suppose it’s a possibility.

If the TUC’s calculations are correct, the year will be 2073 before the UK sees true pay parity. By then, I will be in my 80s. If I end up having daughters of my own, they will have almost reached retirement. The ONS’ new data suggests that maybe, maybe, my potential grandchildren will live in a version of the UK where men and women are paid equally – but today’s working women are unlikely to reap the benefits.

So forgive me if I don’t jump up and down at today’s good news. Because here’s the thing – it’s just not good enough.

Images: Getty Images

Don’t be fooled by the celebratory headlines – the gender pay gap is going nowhere fast