Two thirds of higher education staff are likely to leave the sector according to a survey
66% said they were likely or very likely to leave the university sector within the next five years
Last updated 25th Mar 2022
Two thirds of academics are thinking about leaving the job over pay, pensions and working conditions, according to a new report.
University and College Union (UCU) carried out a survey including nearly 7,000 staff at over 100 institutions.
It comes as 68 universities across the UK take part in ongoing strikes backing the UCU’s demand for change.
Due to current pensions, pay and working conditions they found:
- Two thirds (66%) of participants said they were likely or very likely to leave the university sector within the next five years.
- 81% of 18-to 29-year-olds said they were likely to leave the sector within the same time period.
- Nearly three in four researchers said they would leave higher education over pay and working conditions, but raised to four in five for postgraduate students.
- Around 70,000 academics are employed on temporary fixed-term contracts, 66,000 more are employed on contracts lacking basic employment protections.
- 57% were unhappy about spending their career in higher education whilst 88% had no optimism for the future of the sector.
- Many respondents said that work overload was contributing to issues with their mental health, with some even reporting suicidal ideation.
University College Union's concerned for staff members
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said the findings were particularly concerning for younger academics.
"Those who are literally about to embark on... what they've worked so hard for in terms of a research or teaching career - they're actively planning to leave the sector before they've even got their feet under the table," she said.
"I don't think it's a stretch to say... higher education is literally eating its young, it is cannibalising itself.
"Staff are sounding the alarm about a crisis of morale and faith in UK universities that threatens the future of the entire sector”, she added.
One research academic said in the report: "I don't want the life of an academic, where one is expected to do the equivalent of three jobs while continuously fighting not only for research funding, but for fair pay.
"My partner left academia and earns substantially more than I. I see very little future joy and fulfilment in advancing within the institution as it is today."
Jo Grady says a decade of decline in working conditions, pay and pensions has left staff feeling totally demoralised and preparing to leave the sector in their thousands.
“This report should shock employers and government ministers into getting a grip of the situation before it's too late”, she says.
"By attacking their own staff repeatedly and ignoring their longstanding concerns, vice chancellors have cultivated a toxic working culture that has resulted in the youngest members of staff being the most likely to leave the sector in the next five years.
"This is a ticking time bomb, which could do untold damage to teaching and research in what is held up to be a world-renowned sector."
Why are UCU striking?
Institutions across the UK have been continuing to strike, campaigning for the ‘four fights’: fair pay, job security, manageable workloads, and equality.
They’re urging employers to revoke 35% pension cuts and re-enter negotiations, demanding an end to race, gender and disability pay injustice, secure contracts, manageable workloads, and a £2.5k pay rise for all university employees.
UCU continue take strike action saying not enough is being done, this is their third this academic year.
Universities UK and Colleges Employers Association
But a spokesperson for Universities UK said: "The excellence of our staff is central to UK universities' global reputation for teaching and research."
"We want UCU and employers to work closely and positively together on issues of common interest to ensure that our highly respected university sector offers a high quality and positive experience for both students and staff.
"UUK looks forward to assisting the work of UCEA (Universities and Colleges Employers Association), UCU and other unions plus individual universities to ensure higher education institutions offer supportive working environments in which staff can thrive, alongside attractive remuneration and benefits.
"The changes to USS pensions about to take effect from April 1 2022 will see staff continuing to receive very good pensions at affordable contribution levels - USS will remain one of the most attractive pension schemes in the country. "
Raj Jethwa, chief executive of UCEA, said: "It is time for UCU to consider their members by progressing the consistent offers that have been made by employers.
"These focus on taking concrete action and progressing joint working to address contractual concerns, workload issues and reduce the gender, ethnicity and disability pay gaps."
"These findings should mark a turning point in higher education"
The report calls for Westminster's education select committee to launch an inquiry into the morale and wellbeing of staff in higher education and consider how employer policies on pensions, pay and working conditions impact on staff and the student experience.
Jo Grady says, “These findings should mark a turning point in higher education. Right now, vice chancellors should be breaking down the doors of staff to address their concerns rather than refusing to negotiate better conditions.
“The gravity of these results also leaves us as a union with no option but to ask the education select committee to draw up plans for an inquiry into staff wellbeing in the sector.
“We want governments in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to follow Scotland's lead and put forward legislation that will properly democratise decision making at universities, putting staff on boards and ensuring that decisions made in the future are for the benefit of the workforce and students.”