The gender pay gap in UK universities 2004/5 to 2019/20

Harris, Richard; Mate-Sanchez-Val, Mariluz; Ruiz Marín, Manuel

Abstract

Using UK data supplied by universities, this paper confirms that women academics earn less than men, even after controlling for a range of covariates. Despite narrowing after 2004/05, the observed (unconditional)pay gap was still -0.089 in 2019/20, while the conditional pay gap was relatively unchanged remaining at around -0.050in 2019/20. The results are consistent with the literature on why pay gaps might occur, with the key disparity occurring when women face a higher cost of investment and statistical discrimination, linked to bias, to achieve promotion. That is, the results presented here suggest that earnings gaps are significantly reduced when grade-balanced gender sub-groups are compared, suggesting conditional wage differences are more likely due to bias rather than any inherent differences in (research) productivity.

Citation

Harris, R., Mate-Sanchez-Val, M., & Ruiz Marín, M. (2023). The gender pay gap in UK universities 2004/5 to 2019/20. Studies in Higher Education, https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2023.2280205

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 1, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Nov 7, 2023
• Publication Date: Nov 7, 2023
• Deposit Date: Nov 3, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 3, 2024
• Journal: Studies in Higher Education
• Print ISSN: 0307-5079
• Electronic ISSN: 1470-174X
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2023.2280205
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1875933