Poor career prospects fuel desire to move on from science jobs

Almost 40 per cent of Australia’s scientists are thinking of leaving their jobs because of a lack of career development opportunities, concerns about job security and little prospect of a pay rise, a national survey has found.

More than 65 per cent also said that cost-cutting was affecting the scientific research institutes, companies and organisations where they were employed.

The annual survey found that women in science are paid 16 per cent less than their male colleagues, which is a bigger salary gender gap than the national average of 14.6 per cent.