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Stuart Gentle Publisher at Onrec

More Men Than Women Expect To Bag A Payrise AND Promotion in 2017

One in three UK employees plan to pitch their bosses for extra pay AND take a step up the job ladder with a promotion this year, according to new research released by job search engine, Adzuna.

  • Almost a third of UK workforce angling for promotion AND a pay rise in 2017
  • Men and women equally likely to expect a payrise in 2017 - but male employees more likely to expect promotion as well
  • Women were also 35% more likely to be content with the status quo - and have no plans for career progression this year
  • Workers in the South West feel most hard done by by employers, as advertised salaries fell 2.3% year-on-year

One in three UK employees plan to pitch their bosses for extra pay AND take a step up the job ladder with a promotion this year, according to new research released by job search engine, Adzuna.

The study, conducted in March 2017, analysed responses from over 700 passive and active jobseekers. It uncovered their career development plans for 2017. their overall levels in their roles and which elements of the job contribute most strongly to their overall happiness.

Male employees, of whom 40% are planning on a payrise and a promotion in 2017, were much more likely to make a bid for this double progression than their female colleagues, with just 25% of women setting their sights on this goal.

Women proved more likely to be content to stay in the same role without progression in pay or responsibilities, with more than half the female workforce declaring no plans to improve their positions this year. Their male counterparts, on the other hand, were far less likely to be content with career stagnation, even for a very short period.

Doug Monro, co-founder of job search engine Adzuna, commented:

“A gender divide seems to be alive and well, according to this study. Although equal numbers of men and women planned to pick up a pay rise this year, far more men than women also hankered after a promotion from their current role. There may be some unrealistic male bravado here, but women also need to raise their expectations (and employers to promote them) if we are to see more equality in senior positions.”

Southern Workers Happier Than Northern Colleagues

Employees in the South East feel the most appreciated in the UK, with just 37.5% of the workforce nursing feeling of disenchantment with the value their bosses place on their work. Eastern England and Londoners completed the top three most appreciated regions.

In the South West, however, employee appreciation was at its lowest, with 53.5% of staff reporting feeling unappreciated.  Adzuna data shows that average advertised salaries in the region have fallen 2.3% in the last year, dropping to £30,243 in February 2017, well below the UK average.

North East Employees Most Pragmatic in UK

Workers in the North East proved themselves the most financially-motivated in the UK, with not one single respondent claiming to be so happy in their role they would perform their job for free. The North East was the only area of the country where no-one at all would be willing to do this. Pragmatic employees in Scotland (2.2%) and West Midlands (2.9%) came in second and third place.

Further down the country, 10.8% of the workforce in Eastern England would happily continue in their role without pay, making them five times as likely to work for free as Scottish staff.

Nationwide, men proved more willing to work for nothing, with 10% of men contemplating a philanthropic lifestyle, while only 6% of women would give it serious thought.

Doug Monro, co-founder of job search engine Adzuna, added:

“As well as seeing some interesting trends in which workforce segments would be most inclined to work for free, we asked if employees would quit their careers if they won the lottery. Women were keener than men to ditch their current role if they hit the big time, with 54% harbouring dreams of a life of luxury, while only 41% of men shared the fantasy.”

Regionally, the East of England and Yorkshire were the only regions that saw half or more of the workforce planning to quit their roles in the event of a lottery win.

At the other end of the spectrum, less than a third of workers (30%) in the North East had the same dream.

Data tables follow:

Table 1: Male and Female Workers - Payrise Plans

Payrise Plans

Male

Female

No plans

40.0%

54.0%

Ask for a payrise

14.0%

14.0%

Apply for a promotion

8.4%

6.5%

Both please!

37.6%

23.5%

Table 2: Regional split of employee appreciation

Region

% of unappreciated employees

South East

37.5%

Eastern England

46.0%

London

47.4%

UK Average

47.9%

North West

47.6%

Wales

48.2%

West Midlands

48.5%

Scotland

50.0%

North East

50.0%

East Midlands

51.6%

South West

53.5%

Table 3: UK Regions most likely to work for free

Region

% of employees who would work for free

North East

0.0%

Scotland

2.2%

West Midlands

2.9%

Wales

3.6%

East Midlands

5.8%

North West

8.1%

London

8.2%

South West

9.1%

South East

9.7%

Yorkshire

10.5%

Eastern England

10.8%

Table 4: Regional employees who would quit current roles if they won lottery 

Region

% of employees who would quit for a lottery win

Eastern England

52.8%

Yorkshire and the Humber  

50.0%

East Midlands

47.0%

Scotland

44.7%

South West

44.4%

North West

39.7%

London

39.6%

West Midlands

37.1%

South East

35.2%

North East

29.1%

Eastern England

10.8%