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In the Spring 2003 issue of Graduate Market Trends (GMT) [1], we looked at the differences in earnings and employment patterns between male and female graduates using data from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). In this article, we investigate these gender issues further, incorporating additional findings from other studies. Women in education According to Key Indicators of Women's Position in Britain [2], in 1999/2000 56% of girls achieved five or more GCSEs at grades A*-C compared with 45% of boys; and at GCE A-level/SCE higher, 63% of women achieved grades A-C compared with 60% of men. In addition to these promising early educational performances, figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) also show that women are well-represented in higher education [3]. In 1995/96, UK domiciled women represented 52.1% of all UK students in higher education, increasing to 56.9% by 2000/01. Women are also found to be more likely to obtain good degrees compared with their male counterparts. In 2000/01, 56.6% of female first degree graduates achieved either a first or 2:1 degree. The corresponding figure for male graduates was only 49%. Female graduates in the labour market Armed with all the above educational advantages, it would not be unreasonable to assume that women are better equipped to succeed in the work place than men. Our previous study [1] has indeed shown that female graduates have higher employment and lower unemployment rates than male graduates. However, women's advantage in the labour market over their male counterparts appears to end there. Our research shows that:· Male graduates have higher weekly earnings than female graduates across each of the eight age groups studied between 21-25 and 56-60, with the earnings differentials ranging from 12.2% at age 21-25 to 40.5% at age 41-45. · In both the private and public sectors, male graduates have higher earnings than their female counterparts in the same sector. In addition, across all industries and in five of the six broad occupational categories studied, men earn more than women of the same age band. (The only exception is sales and customer service, where the sample size for male graduates aged 21-40 is too small to be included in the discussion.) · Women graduates achieve their highest earnings between age 36-40, compared with a slightly later age of 41-45 for men.Another study, Qualifications and Careers: Equal Opportunities and Earnings among Graduates from the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), has also reported similar findings [4]. The research, based on new analysis of the Moving On survey - a study of 11,000 UK first degree graduates three and a half years after their course completion and conducted in 1998, revealed that although female graduates entered the labour market just as well qualified as their male counterparts, their earnings distribution was very different three years after graduation.
Approximate Word count = 1778
Approximate Pages = 7.1
(250 words per page double spaced)
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