THE UK has climbed up an international table for women's employment and pay but is being hit by a low proportion of women in full-time jobs, according to a new study.

Professional services firm PwC said the UK had risen four places to 14 out of 27 OECD countries in the past year, mainly due to the economic recovery.

Nordic countries remained at the head of the table, with Norway on top, followed by Denmark and Sweden, while other countries making good progress included Hungary and the United States.

Yong Jing Teow, economist at PwC, said: "It is encouraging that the UK is making gradual headway and has returned to its position of 2000. The economic recovery has benefitted both men and women, but more so for women as indicated by the closing gap between UK male and female labour force participation and the employment rate.

"However, the UK is yet to fully address the underlying factors in the labour market that influence gender pay gap and the proportion of women in full-time employment. So there is still a long way to go before we catch up with Nordic countries.

"If we want to see a meaningful change to women's economic empowerment in the UK, we need to make sure that the contribution of women in the workplace is fairly recognised and remunerated, and to support women in continuing their careers after having children."

PwC said the low number of women in full-time employment was preventing the UK from competing with the Nordic countries, adding that many flexible workers have to work harder for promotion and don't progress as quickly.

Jo Swinson, Lib Dem minister for women and employment relations, said: "We have started to crack the glass ceiling, but we are still a long way from smashing it. As this report shows, we now have more women in work than ever before, but we have unfinished business when it comes to the flipside - flexibility and freedom for men at home.

"And if we do not have more equality at home, we will not achieve the equality that we seek in the workplace."