The gender pay gap within the education and academia industry will take 40 years to close, according to a new report.
The report, released by University and College Union (UCU), found that between 2015 and 2016, UK universities had a 12 per cent overall gender pay gap for academic staff.
This figure is lower than the gap between 2014 and 2015, which stood at 12.3 per cent, and the 12.6 per cent between 2013 and 2014.
The report also shows that as seniority and salary increase, the fewer women there are. In 2015/16, universities used a 51 point pay scale which had proportionately more women than men up to point 43, but that reversed from point 44 onwards. At the highest points of 49-51, 63 per cent of academic staff were men, while only 37 per cent were women.
Speaking about the findings, Sally Hunt, UCU general secretary said, “At this rate it will take 40 years to close the academic gender pay gap.”
“The fact that women are under-represented in the higher management grades and the professoriate is contributing to the overall 12 per cent gender pay gap for academic staff.”
“Universities need to analyse their gender pay gaps by carrying out equal pay audits.”
“We are now submitting local equal pay audits at universities and want institutions to analyse and address their gender pay gaps.”
