Low career ambitions ingrained in women at a young age, says research

Teenage girls expect to earn £7,000 a year less than boys in their future careers

Protesters campaign for equal pay rights in front of the Brandenburg Gate (Getty)

Low career ambitions are ingrained in women at a young age, according to new research showing teenage girls expect to earn £7,000 a year less than boys in their future careers.

The survey of more than 3,000 14-19 year olds found that girls predict they will be earning £36,876 within 10 years of leaving education, while boys expect £44,124 – 16 per cent more.

While both girls and boys overestimated their likely future salaries, young people predicted the likely pay disparity fairly accurately as according to the National Office for Statistics the gender pay gap in the UK is 19.2 per cent.

The research for City & Guilds, which provides vocational qualifications and apprenticeships, also revealed the vast majority of young people still believe university is the only route to a good career, with more than two thirds (68 per cent) of 14-19 year olds planning to go to further education. This is despite a third of them not knowing what they would study and only 30 per cent of available jobs forecast to be graduate roles.

The research found young people had been misinformed about how to secure their dream job and often had little understanding of the best route to take. Although 70 per cent of young people claimed they have the information needed to pursue their future career, only 28 per cent thought previous work experience was important. In contrast, recent City & Guilds research found most employers (78 per cent) see work experience as essential.

Sam Smethers, chief executive of the Fawcett Society, said: “This research paints a worrying picture. It is not surprising to see girls aiming lower than boys when it comes to salary. This is a product of years of conditioning. Even as adults at work women asking for a pay rise are labelled as ‘pushy’ whereas for men that’s expected.

“But we also need to properly value those careers which are dominated by women such as childcare and social care. They are vital professions which most of us will rely on at some point in our lives, yet they are extremely poorly paid.”