Bi-annually the IES invites our members to take part in a salary survey. This data helps us to track trends in the sector and identify changes; in 2014 this survey generated three points for concern. First, a 25% gap between average male and female salaries. According to the Office of National Statistics the national average of the UK is 19% and according to the International Labour Organisation the average gap globally is 23%.

Second, this gap has increased since 2012 by 7%. This means that the difference in average salaries has effectively increased 44% from £7,700 to £11,100.

Average salary for men and women since 2010 showing the division emerging in 2014.

Finally, it was found that whilst women have equal if not greater representation at lower salary levels in the environmental sciences; only 9% earn more than £45,000 whereas 36% of men in the industry fall in these bands.

Salary range by gender shows a far greater range of male salaries than female.

In response to these worrying figures, the IES is setting up the Women in Environmental Sciences Steering Group (WESSG) to help shape our research and policy on this issue.

We are currently in the process of developing guidance for businesses on increasing both opportunities for and participation of women in the workforce. The steering group will initially be responsible for helping the IES develop a best practice toolkit including case studies of successful policies within the industry and an outline of the laws on gender discrimination. We hope to further develop our work in this area in the future, with other projects that the steering group will guide, by no means just restricted to questions of salary.

If you are interested in becoming part of this steering group, and helping to shape the Institution’s work on gender equality, please contact our Publications Assistant Dominic Sheldon at dominic@the-ies.org, or call the Project Office on +44 (0)207 601 1920.  We are looking for participation from all our categories of membership, including students.