Engineering news
The research, carried out by SJD Accountancy, found that women with job titles such as mechanical engineer or maintenance engineer earn almost a third less than men with the same occupation.
“The gender pay gap has been a topic of increasing conversation,” said Derek Kelly, CEO of SJD's owner Optionis. “Putting the difference in salary into real terms has been shocking. This information now highlights the genuine impact that this can have not only on employees but their families and long-term prospects.”
The analysis involved a survey of more than 1,000 contractors.
The report follows the government publication of salary data from more than 10,000 companies earlier this year. Professional Engineering analysis of the data found more than 70 engineering-related companies in the UK paid men 35% more on average than women. The data did not reveal unequal pay for the same jobs, which is illegal, but it did show women are frequently employed in lower-paying roles than men.
At building, maintenance and renewable technology firm James Frew, women made only 38p for every £1 earned by men. Women at well-known companies including Assystem and Red Bull Technology also received a significantly lower mean hourly rate than their male colleagues.
The new analysis by SJD is perhaps even more concerning, as it shows women earning less money for potentially doing the same work as men.
An earlier salary survey by New Scientist and recruitment specialists SRG also found a significant difference, identifying a 20% average difference in male and female wages at science and engineering firms. Worryingly, the survey also found the average wage gap increased as women get older, reaching 35% for women aged 55 and above.
The inequality for female engineers could be one of the reasons for the ongoing low numbers of women in the sector. The engineering workforce is believed to be about 89% male.
Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.