Male Uber drivers ‘are faster, so earn more’

MALE Uber drivers earn more than their female counterparts because they drive faster, new analysis has found.

A study by Stanford and Chicago Universities, commissioned by Uber, revealed that the average 2.2 per cent faster speeds of male drivers accounted for around half of the earnings gap. Men also earn more because they stay with the company longer, which increases their pay packet, according to the research.

Revelations of a gender pay gap in the gig economy are thought to be particularly shocking because the format should be able to overcome the lack of flexibility in traditional workplaces that drives much pay disparity.

The Uber payment system was designed to reward faster driving, the researchers said, as Uber pays drivers based on the length of the ride, how long it takes and sometimes a “surge” multiplier, which can push up rates.

Drivers who have taken more than 2,500 trips earn an average of £2.15 more per hour than those with fewer than 100 trips.