One fifth (22%) of women consider themselves worse off financially compared to a year ago due to the Coronavirus pandemic, according to new research.

This compared to 18% of men.

One third of women (33%) said they had not managed to save any money in December, in comparison to a quarter (25%) of men.

Men were also more likely to consider themselves to be financially resilient should another lockdown be put in place, according to the research by YouGov for financial adviser Quilter.

Nearly a quarter of men (22%) said they were in a better financial position than they were last year and that their current finances and earnings would allow them to cope with another lockdown, compared to just 15% of women.

Heather Owen, financial advice expert at Quilter, said: “The Covid crisis has had a devastating impact on gender equality in terms of our personal finances. Women often work in sectors vulnerable to lockdowns or are responsible for the provision of care, meaning they have been exposed to a greater extent to the negative effects of the pandemic than men.

“Our research shows that nearly two years on from the start of the pandemic, women remain less confident than men when it comes to money and their financial prospects. It remains a worry that women are saving less and feel more vulnerable.

“As we emerge from the pandemic the government needs to be doing more to ensure women can get their careers back on track and in turn fully engage with their personal finances. Things are changing in the world of savings and investments but we cannot let the pandemic put a halt to the progress made so far. It is important women are empowered to make financial decisions and that access to advice, products and services is made as inclusive as possible.”

A 2020 study from the Institute for Fiscal Studies found that women were a one-third more likely to work in a sector that was forced to close as a result of lockdown than men.

YouGov surveyed 2,069 adults on behalf of Quilter in December.