Women are as ambitious as men when it comes to chasing promotion and high wages, results of a survey by Shine People and Places has shown.
Shine polled 2,000 people for the survey, conducted to gauge the professional aspirations and concerns of women in the travel industry. Some 75% were women, 25% were men.
Nearly half said the desire to earn more money drove their career aspirations, while 28% said they were seeking promotion. Some 12% said they aspired to set up their own business.
Joint Shine managing director Alessandra Alonso said: “It is always assumed women are not as ambitious as men, but this shows that is not the case. What is more surprising is that just 14% were looking for part or flexi-time working.”
The survey also showed an employer’s culture and values was the priority for a third of the sample. The same number said communication was the main skill women bring to a business. Others cited women’s ability to multi-task, organise and be diplomatic.
Alonso said: “It’s nice to see that although women are ambitious, it is ambition with a conscious.”
She added: “Women make up 60% of the workforce so it’s important that at a time when talent is scarce women are kept in the industry and their skills are maximised, but this survey shows many believe things could be better.”
University of Hertfordshire head of tourism Brandon Crimes said 72% of his students are female but that they will go where the money is when they graduate.
He added: “The travel industry is not paying enough to hold graduates, which means the pool of workers is shrinking.”