THE Essex Business School, part of the University of Essex, is to shine the spotlight on the continuing gender pay gap following a survey which showed male graduates to be earning more than their female counterparts with similar qualifications and experience.

In line with the national trend, the latest Destination of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey found that female graduates from the Essex Business School (EBS) earn less than their males peers.

To tie in with International Women’s Day on March 8, Essex Business School in conjunction with the Precarious Workers Brigade is organising a seminar on Graduate Employment and the Gender Pay Gap at the university’s Colchester campus on Wednesday, March 7.

The survey of EBS graduates, shows that 46.7% of women who replied, go into graduate level employment while the figure is 67.3% for men. The study also found that more women than men work part-time or do voluntary work after graduation.

The Office for National Statistics latest figures show men earning an average of �28,901 compared with �22,490 for women.

And according to a study by the Chartered Management Institute in 2010, female managers were paid an average of �31,895 per year, compared with �42,441 for men doing the same job.

Experts on gender-related work issues from Essex Business School will be speaking at the seminar which will explore the reasons for the persistence of pay inequity at graduate level and give students concrete advice on how to manage unequal pay in their own careers.

The seminar is followed by lunch and an interactive workshop on low paid employment, domestic work and arts and culture arranged by the Precarious Workers Brigade. This event, which runs from 10am to 2pm, is free of charge.