Member Article

Gender pay divide widens amongst North East workers

A report by Nigel Wright has highlighted a 3% increase in North East salaries in the last 12 months, however the gap between male and female salaries has increased again by 1% to 12%, well above the national average of 9.4%.

The Newcastle-based recruitment consultancy surveyed over 1,000 North East respondents working across different disciplines and levels, in sectors such as industrial and manufacturing; business support and professional services; public and third sectors; consumer; and digital and creative.

Executive salaries saw the biggest increase at 4.2% on average, followed by HR at 3.9%, according to the report.

Other disciplines’ salaries generally increased by between 2.8% and 3.2% - supply chain and procurement, in particular, is increasing in prominence in organisations, while IT salaries remained static.

The gap between male and female salaries increased again by 1% to 12%, however the report states “women often work a 3-4 working day week, or reduced hours, to account for childcare arrangements”

In terms of employee benefits, company bonuses remained static at 8%, while personal bonuses increased, on average, by 1% to 10%; although, again, fewer people received them during the last 12 months.

The report found that overall job satisfaction has declined during the last twelve months; At the executive level, however, those claiming to be ‘very satisfied’ in their job increased by 16%.

Paul Wilson, CEO at Nigel Wright, commented on the findings“ “The 3% increase in North East salaries is a clear indication of the improving market conditions we’ve been experiencing in the past year. The economy is growing and companies have started rewarding people again.

“The decline in job satisfaction is an interesting figure; essentially, it means that after years of prioritising job security over career development, candidates are becoming more open to revaluating their careers and looking for better conditions elsewhere.

“It is very much a candidate-driven market, and as confidence levels improve, candidate shortages become more widespread. The skills shortage issue is particularly prominent in the region; competition for the best people has been heightened and companies are willing to pay for the best talent.

“Finally, as more and more individuals are now using online media in their job search, it is increasingly important for businesses to invest in their employer brand and in resources that can maximise their potential for attracting the best candidates.”

The full report can be downloaded from http://ukrecruitment.nigelwright.com/

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .