Today is the day the Equality and Human Rights Commission has warned it will begin enforcement action on companies who haven't yet published gender pay gap figures.

All companies with more than 250 employees were ordered to publish the differences between the median hourly pay of men and women by April 4, with public sector groups having faced a March 30 deadline.

Any action taken today could ultimately lead to "unlimited fines" being set by the courts.

It's serious stuff – and the data gathered so far shows an astonishing three quarters of companies still pay men more than women.

Only about 15% of businesses who have filed pay more to women, with 11% paying male and female staff the same.

The figures also show the average gap at a national level is 18.4%, although several companies have revealed differentials in excess of 30%.

In 183 of 206 local authority areas, men in full time jobs earn more on average than women, but the gap varies from place to place.

The top 10 includes the City of London and Tower Hamlets, which contains the financial area Canary Wharf.

Blaenau Gwent in Wales has recorded the highest percentage gap between full-time workers, with the average man on £14.07 an hour and average woman on £9.54, a difference of 32%.

So what's being done to address this?

Well, the Government recently announced a £1.5 million fund to help tackle the pay gap.

Minister for Women and Equalities Amber Rudd has promised the fund will support people back into work after time as carers.

Meantime, there is growing evidence of sectors in the UK offering the lowest gender pay gaps or striving ever more forcefully to bring in equality.

These can often offer the best opportunities for all job applicants to enjoy a rewarding career.

Legal

Traditionally a highly paid sector, there is certainly a pay gap in the legal world. But steps are being taken to put an end to historic discrimination.

And guidance published by the Government Equalities Office in 2017 urges organisations to review and update practices – not only in pay but in areas such as family leave.

It's hoped this could help shatter the profession’s glass ceiling for females.

Construction

Despite its billing as the biggest gender pay gap industry, a survey commissioned by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors revealed 46% of respondents predict this difference will ultimately shrink.

While more must be done if the industry is to tackle issues of inequality, with a growing skills shortage, female applicants are now tuning into the diverse range of roles available – including planners, architects, surveyors, engineers and trades.

Production & Manufacturing

Production is strong, with the food and drinks sector in particular offering exciting, equal-pay prospects for women. In fact, the industry is proactively working to address inequality, while benefitting the UK economy to the tasty sum of £110 billion a year – making it the UK's biggest manufacturing sector.

If you'd Iike to discover roles that offer equal pay and opportunity, explore the many opportunities: