More than half of female students believe gender may hold them back in their career, a study has found. Only
42 per cent of women are confident that their gender will have no
influence on their pay and their career progression, compared to more
than 70 per cent of men, according to the first national Think Future
Study from KPMG and the 30% Club, a group of chairs and CEOs committed
to better gender balance through voluntary action.
The study launched by Cambridge undergraduate Helena Eccles in November has polled over 20,000 students at 21 universities. It
found that more than 70 per cent of young women are confident in their
own abilities but doubtful that a traditional career path will enable
them to progress their careers as far as they want.
The findings also highlight the issue of “gendered” sectors, which continues to restrict talent pools in certain industries.
Nearly
half of female students felt that a sector’s reputation for gender
equality would influence their decision about working in it. While only
27 per cent of male students considered gender equality as a requirement
for working in an industry.
Financial services was the 4th most
popular sector choice for men and only the 12th most popular choice for
women, according to Brenda Trenowden, Global Chair of the 30% Club.
Melanie
Richards, vice chairman of KPMG UK and a member of the 30% Club
Steering Committee, said it is “concerning” that women are considerably
less optimistic than men about their future career prospects.
“As
business leaders we need to play an active role to promote gender
parity, bust these myths and recast the image we are projecting to
attract the best talent, regardless of their gender. Within our own firm
this includes setting targets to recruit, promote and bring through
female talent,” Richards said.
“We know better commercial
performance comes from the innovation that happens between different
people, and we want to recruit graduates from a wider range of
backgrounds and disciplines. Having a more diverse workforce gives us a
better array of viewpoints on client matters and challenge around our
actions,” she added.
Finding a job they enjoy, having time to
spend with family and friends and being intellectually fulfilled were
the top three priorities for job satisfaction when it came to entering
the working world for both male and female students, according to the
study.
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