Female staff numbers continue to grow
2001/02 Academic staff and finance data published by HESA
The number of female academic staff in UK higher education institutions has increased again this year by 5% compared to just a 1% increase in the number of men according to statistics released today by the Higher Education Statistics Agency. Women make up only 38% of all academic staff, although looking at those just employed on a part-time basis shows they account for 55% of the workforce says the report Resources of Higher Education Institutions 2001/02 published by HESA. A summary of academic staff is shown in the table below:
Summary of Academic Staff in all UK Institutions 2001/02 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Full-time | Part-time | Total | ||
Mode of employment | 119900 | 23250 | 143150 | |
Gender | Female | 41225 | 12725 | 53955 |
Male | 78675 | 10520 | 89200 | |
Primary employment function |
Teaching/Teaching & research | 80840 | 17465 | 98305 |
Research only | 39060 | 5785 | 44845 | |
Grade | Professors | 12820 | 990 | 13810 |
Senior lecturers & researchers | 22720 | 1910 | 24630 | |
Lecturers | 41495 | 8650 | 50140 | |
Researchers | 35200 | 5200 | 40400 | |
Other grades | 7665 | 6505 | 14170 | |
In this table 0, 1, 2 are rounded to 0. All other numbers are rounded up or down to the nearest 5. |
Overall staff numbers grew by 2.3% to 143,150 from 139,940 in 2000/01. Much of this can be accounted for by the growth in the numbers of full time staff from 116,405 in 2000/01 to 119,900 in 2001/02. The HESA data shows that 84% of staff work full-time.
Analysis of staff age1 shows that nearly half (49%) of staff were aged 45 or over and 18% were aged between 51 and 55. The average age of all staff was 42. More data on staff age and grade2 is shown here:
Full-time Non-clinical Wholly Institutionally Financed Academic Staff by Grade and Age 2001/02 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Professors | Senior lecturers & researchers |
Lecturers | Researchers | Other grades | Total | |
Under 26 | 0 | 5 | 215 | 720 | 255 | 1195 |
26-30 | 10 | 85 | 2945 | 1735 | 460 | 5235 |
31-35 | 100 | 1050 | 6620 | 1475 | 485 | 9730 |
36-40 | 655 | 2775 | 7145 | 955 | 495 | 12020 |
41-45 | 1375 | 3490 | 5760 | 605 | 705 | 11940 |
46-50 | 2195 | 3725 | 5280 | 420 | 860 | 12485 |
51-55 | 3045 | 4470 | 4975 | 350 | 1025 | 13860 |
56-60 | 2285 | 2980 | 2475 | 180 | 540 | 8455 |
61-65 | 1095 | 1030 | 705 | 55 | 160 | 3040 |
66 + | 105 | 50 | 25 | 10 | 25 | 210 |
Unknown | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
Total | 10860 | 19660 | 36145 | 6505 | 5005 | 78180 |
In this table 0, 1, 2 are rounded to 0. All other numbers are rounded up or down to the nearest 5. |
Three quarters of research staff were aged 40 and under in 2001/02 with 42% of senior lecturers & researchers and almost half of professors (48%) aged between 46 and 55.
When looking at the ethnicity of staff who are of UK nationality 5% or 5,460 staff were found to be of non- white ethnicity. Ethnicity data is unknown for 9% of staff and data is calculated on those whose ethnicity is known only. The chart below shows how the breakdown of non-white staff is spilt between different ethnic groups.
Finance data is also analysed in the report - some key points of which follow:
- Tangible assets have increased by £996 million (7%)
- There has been a substantial increase in short-term borrowing (£346 million) and a decrease in short-term investments (£128 million)
- Funding council grants increased by almost £351 million (6.6%)
- The amount of income received from tuition fees & education grants & contracts increased by 9.2%
- UK and EU domiciled students charged full-time HE course standard fees accounted for 37.4% of income from tuition fees & education grants & contracts
- Research councils provided just over a third of research grants & contracts - the largest share of the total.
Notes for Editors
- Staff age data relates only to full-time non-clinical staff, wholly financed by the institution, unless otherwise stated.
- Analysis by "staff grade" is only meaningful where institutions have reported their staff within nationally recognised grade structures or within internal grade structures which facilitate differentiation on a similar basis. The Agency therefore advises caution in analysis of staff by grade.
- The Reference Volume: Resources of Higher Education Institutions 2001/02 provides a statistical reference of academic staff and institutional finance data in the UK for 2001/02.
- The Reference Volume is available from the Customer Services Team, HESA, 95 Promenade, Cheltenham, GL50 1HZ, telephone 01242 211155. An electronic version on CD Rom is also available. A list of other available publications can also be obtained from the Customer Services Team.
- HESA cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived from the data by third parties.
- Press Enquiries should be directed to Press Officer, at HESA, 95 Promenade, Cheltenham, GL50 1HZ; telephone: 01242 211133.
Ends


Press Officer