Training agency Creative Skillset have produced Tuning Out - a report on women working in the UK radio industry – especially for Sound Women.
Read the full report here. It shows just how far we have to go:
- While women working in radio are better qualified than men (73% of women have degrees, compared to 60% men), they’ll be paid less – earning on average £2,200 less each year.
- They are also less likely to make it to the top. Women make up just 34% of senior managers and only 17% at Board level. This is much lower than in television, where 29% of board members are women.
- Older women are less well represented too – 9% of women in radio are 50+, compared to 19% of men.
- And 16% of women in radio have dependent children, compared to 25% of men, suggesting that many women leave when they have children.
Over 24 million women (aged 15 years +) listen to any radio each week. That’s 91% of all women, and they make up 51% of all radio listeners. We think they deserve a better deal.
Our research team is currently working on plans to complete a comprehensive survey of on air women presenters. We know the gender gap can be startling, and want to see where women are making an impact on air, and where they face barriers.
We’re also looking at why women over 35 are leaving the industry – we know it’s not just about having children. Is it a lack of money or support? And which jobs are they leaving?