Female students expect lower salaries across Europe

WOMEN earn on average 17.5% less than men in the European Union. No surprise then, that female university students in Europe expect to earn less than men once they graduate. According to a recent report by Universum, a Swedish consultancy, women studying in the top European institutions expect to earn on average around €8,600 ($12,400), or 21% less than men, (men expect a graduate starting salary of €40,898). Women and men seem to differ in workplace and career aspirations, which may explain why salary expectations differ. Men generally placed more importance on being a leader or manager than women (34% of men verses 22% of women), and want jobs with high levels of responsibility (25% v 17%). Women, however want to work for a company with high corporate social responsibility and ethical standards; men are more interested in prestige (31% v 24%).