Liverpool female professors paid over £8,000 less than male equivalents

A report published by the the University and College Union has found that female professors at the University of Liverpool are paid, on average, over £8,000 less than their male counterparts. 

The report, published this month on International Women’s Day, ranks the University of Liverpool as having the 9th worst gender pay gap of all UK higher education institutions between male and female professors at £8,245. This means that female professors earn 90.20% of male professor’s pay check.

Less money for you

The university is also ranked 23rd worst overall for combined pay gaps across academic career stages on campus. Liverpool Hope came in at an appalling 2nd place on the combined career stages table, while John Moores ranked 32nd.

The report stated that the gender pay gap across higher education in the UK equates to a shortfall of £6,103 per year for each female academic, putting the difference in average pay at £528 million per year. Higher education institutes in the UK spend £1.3 million less on female academics than male ones.

It also noted that the gender pay gap is larger at the “so-called ‘elite’ Russell Group institutions”, of which the University of Liverpool is member, and that while over half of all academics are women, only 23% of professors are female, suggesting “women are not being promoted to the top academic posts.”

Grace Edwards, a member of the Fem Soc committee, responded to the report: “The gender pay gap should be more of a priority now than it has ever been. Inequality exists – these figures are frightening and must be taken seriously should the university want to hold onto its international reputation.

“I also think that it’s important to remember that although Janet Beer is in a huge position of power within the university, these statistics show clearly that they still haven’t ‘got it right’ – there are women in all departments and across the whole university that are done a disservice every month when they open their pay check, and this has to change.

“We at Fem Soc will stand by our female lecturers, tutors and professors should they choose to pursue this further”.

The University have been contacted for comment, and the article will be edited when they reply.