KT News

September marks International Equal Pay Day, a timely reminder that the gender pay gap remains a persistent issue across sectors and countries. Despite progress, women continue to earn less than men for the same roles. And we should be mindful of the fact that while on average in Europe women earn 13% less than men, this difference is bigger for women of underrepresented groups such as women of colour and trans women.

The gender pay gap consists of different elements:

1. More women work in sectors that tend to pay less (e.g. nursing).
2. Women are more likely to work part-time.
3. Women still earn less than men for doing equal work or work of equal value.

This is not unique to one industry. In sports, tennis has long been scrutinised for its unequal prize money, though recent years have seen improvements thanks to open discussion and advocacy. In the entertainment world, the cast of the series White Lotus made headlines for their commitment to equal pay, regardless of gender or role. These examples show that change is possible when transparency and collective action are prioritised.

What about knowledge transfer?

What about equal pay in knowledge transfer offices (KTOs)? Many, but not all, KTOs are part of universities, where we know that the gender pay gap persists. However, there is limited data describing the pay gap specifically for knowledge transfer professionals. A recent report revealed while there is progress in gender parity within the knowledge transfer field, salary gaps still exist, confirming ongoing disparities despite improvements. It is important to note that this survey was conducted in North America and participants volunteered to take part in the survey which can lead to bias. However, this lack of transparency is an opportunity. To address this, the knowledge transfer profession needs to continue gathering sector wide data on compensation to provide benchmarks for individuals and institutions, and focus on fostering inclusive environments that support and attract top talent.

There are also structural reasons why this might matter. KTOs employ people in diverse roles, such as administration, IP management, business and innovation development, legal, and entrepreneurship support. If some of these tracks are male-dominated while others are female-dominated, differences in pay scales could easily create or widen gender gaps. Wider studies have shown that women are often under-represented in higher-earning positions with this being more pronounced in the private sector. For example, in 2021, women held on average 34.7% of managerial positions in the EU. Additional contributing factors include higher rates of women in lower-paid part-time jobs and the "child penalty" from caring responsibilities, leading to reduced income and career progression for women. With the overall gender difference increasing with the introduction of new technology increases the gap. Without robust data across all sectors, we will not know the true scale of the problem.

Why it matters

Closing the gender pay gap fosters equality, reduces poverty, and strengthens economies. Studies show that reducing the pay gap by just one percentage point could increase GDP by 0.1%. Ensuring equity in knowledge transfer is not only a matter of fairness but also of economic and societal value.

What we can do

Transparency and policy are key. Salary audits, clear pay bands, and regular reviews of recruitment and promotion practices are practical steps organisations can take. Professional associations like ASTP can play an instrumental role by:

• Creating forums to discuss pay equity,

• Supporting data collection across the sector, and

• Highlighting best practices to close the gap.

Equal pay for equal work is not just a slogan, it’s a fundamental right.

On this International Equal Pay Day, let’s recommit to closing the gap, for everyone, and begin building the evidence we need within the knowledge transfer community.

Further Reading:

• The gender pay gap is not a myth, it's math - Of Boys and Men
• Fifty Years Ago, Billie Jean King Won Equal Pay - The New York Times
• The gender pay gap situation in the EU - European Commission
• Gender pay gap statistics - Eurostat
• The gender pay gap: myth-busting! - Women's Budget Group
• Little change in gender pay gap over past 25 years, study finds - BBC News
• Five things to know about women and sport - UN Women