CSR Salaries: Women Lose Out

Women are employed in fewer senior Corporate Social Responsibility roles than men and earn 23 per cent less than their male counterparts, according to a global study of CSR salaries.

The fifth instalment of the biennial Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Salary Survey revealed that in-house, women were less represented in senior roles and more highly represented at junior levels , both in-house and at consultancies.

Women made up only 37 per cent of Directors/Heads and about 60 per cent of Assistants/Team members and Advisors/Analysts in house, while less than 30 per cent of female consultants were Directors/Partners, with women making up over 60 per cent of Consultants/Analysts.

The global average salaries for men and women were approximately $A120,000 and $A95,000 respectively, with the average salary for women declining since 2012.

Female salaries were typically 77 per cent of a male salary, with the decline in female earnings attributed to a reduction in the number of women included in the highest earning categories.

Since 2012, average salaries had risen in Europe and North America, but had dropped in the UK and the ‘’Rest of the World’’ group in which Australia is included. 

The global median salary was at the lower end of the $A93,000 to $A139,000 range.

Some 5 per cent of respondents were earning over A$260,000 and were overwhelmingly based in Europe and North America working for in-house for major companies with more than 1,000 employees.

The survey, produced by UK firms Acre, Carnstone and Flag, attracted 1200 respondents, an increase of 42 per cent in comparison to the 2012 report – indicating significant growth in the sector, according to survey administrators.

High levels of executive commitment to corporate responsibility and sustainability were reflected in the results with nearly 60 per cent of respondents reporting high or very high levels of engagement from executive management.

“As a relatively new industry, the CR and sustainability (CRS) sector is still finding its feet, but this year, we are witnessing the emergence of a recognised profession,” the report said.

“The survey confirms that the CR and Sustainability sector continues to create rewarding jobs with just over 80 per cent claiming to be satisfied or very satisfied in their current positions.”

Other key findings:

• Natural Resources was the most highly paid sector with an average salary more than double that of the lowest paid sector, Leisure and Retail.

• For the first time, the top five activities were the same for in-house employees and consultants; CR/S Strategy Development and Implementation remains in the top position, followed by Reporting/Performance Measurement, then Environment, Stakeholder Engagement and Auditing/Assurance.

• The sector is characterised by well-educated professionals: 90 per cent of respondents have a first and/or postgraduate degree (up from 88 per cent in 2012).

• More people have professional qualifications in non-CR-related subjects than CR related subjects.

The full report can be downloaded at: http://crsalarysurvey.com/download.php