Gender pay gap could in part be due to women’s lack of confidence in seeking job progression

A new survey that confirms the ongoing gender pay gap with stats that show men are paid 42 percent more than women after ten years in workforce, goes on to suggest that the reason is not just to do with a lack of diversity but the attitude of women moving up the corporate ladder. The report from Adzuna claims that British men are significantly more confident than women in furthering their career. The career progression confidence gap between the genders widens greatest with those who have more than ten years’ experience in the workplace, with men twice more likely than women to hold a top job. The research analysed 500,000 CVs submitted through Adzuna’s ValueMyCV tool, comparing the gender and estimated pay grade with number of years’ experience in each respective industry. The research also highlights a disparity in the average salary commanded by men and women for the same position with the same number of years in experience.

Men with up to five years’ experience are paid on average £5,000 (21 percent) more than women, men with five to 10 years’ experience are paid on average £7,000 (25 percent) more, and men with 10+ years’ experience achieve on average £13,000 (42 percent) more in salary than their female contemporaries.

Amongst C Suite applicants the gap widens more significantly. C Suite men are almost six times more likely to apply for a job that furthers their career than women. The salary disparity amongst C Suite applicants is also reflective of this gender confidence gap. C Suite men with up to five years’ experience are paid on average £3,000 (9 percent) more than women, men with five to 10 years’ experience are paid on average £6,500 (11 percent) more, and men with 10+ years’ experience take home on average £19,000 (25 percent) more per annum than their female peers.

This confirms further research* from Adzuna that explored how courageous both men and women are when asking for a pay rise at some point in their careers. The data shows that only 37 percent of women are brave enough to ask for a pay rise whereas 48 percent of men have approached the conversation.

Doug Monro, co-founder of Adzuna, commented: “Gone are the days when men expected to bring home the bacon and women tended to focus their skills on the home. Most employers realise women are integral to the economy and success of this country. True career equality for men and women is still, sadly, a work in progress though. Seeing men with 10 years’ experience twice as likely to seek job progression, and men with the same experience in C Suite positions almost six times as likely to find an improved role shows we have a way to go in educating women on their real value in this day and age.

“According to the most recent statistics from the TUC, women on average work 67 days a year for free because of the current pay gap. This must be addressed, and now: otherwise we are in danger of not affording women the credit and financial return they deserve.”