JLL commits to gender targets in the UK to increase the pace of change

JLL has published its fourth gender pay gap report entitled Accountable for sustained change in which it has outlined its commitment to gender targets in the UK. JLL wants to ensure it is a place where diversity of backgrounds and perspectives thrive. These important metrics will ensure that JLL keeps striving for change and holds itself and the wider real estate sector to account.

The targets will aim to address the imbalance of opportunity and include:

• All key governance committees 35% female by 2025 and 50% by 2030 and 
  
• 35% female directors by 2025.

These targets are in response to JLL’s latest gender pay gap figures which show that the mean gender pay gap is 21.9% percent and the median gender pay gap is 19.1% percent. The figures have remained relatively static compared to those announced in 2020 when JLL reported that its mean gender pay gap was 21.2% and the median gender pay gap was 18.5%.

In setting gender targets now JLL will also announce more, including ethnicity targets, in the coming months.  

JLL has comprehensively reviewed all the factors contributing to an imbalance of men and women in its leadership. This has provided a clear outline of each positive intervention it can make, from recruitment and selection processes to leadership programmes and promotions. These all have corresponding measures, which will be regularly reviewed.

Emily Wood, head of UK finance and gender balance board sponsor at JLL, said: “Gender targets will widen the career pipeline as we focus on a high-performance culture, where talented individuals no matter their gender can progress. Ultimately, these important metrics will ensure we keep striving for change and hold ourselves to account.”

Alistair Meadows, head of investor-developer clients and gender balance board sponsor at JLL, added: “Despite everything we’ve done in recent years, it hasn’t had the impact we hoped and we’re impatient for change. Not only is this the right thing to do at JLL and for our sector which has been slow to respond, it also aligns ourselves to clients with whom we want to share values.”