A new study looking at 23 subjects studied at university has suggested that the gender pay gap can start as early as the first year after graduating.
The Educational Outcome Data published by the Department of Education combines educational records with the Government’s tax and benefits database. The figures show that men are more likely to have higher pay than women who graduated in the same year, in the same subject and from the same university.
It’s reported that the widest gap was in veterinary science with women earning about half as much as their male counterparts after 5 years. Despite women being the vast majority of nursing graduates, men were still earning about £2,000 more only a year after graduating. In only one course, English, did female graduates earn more than males over five years.
It should be noted that the figures are described as experimental and do not include mature students or the self-employed. London weighting was also not taken into account, possibly exaggerating the earnings gap with those who attended London universities. The figures challenge the idea that gender pay gap only develops over time, due to factors such as maternity leave, instead it shows women can be earning less than men within a year of entering the workforce!