There is no sign of the gender pay gap closing in the UK financial services industry, where women earned on average 20% less than men in 2012, according to analysis by specialist professional networking website eFinancialCareers.

The company's survey of some 1,500 finance professionals in the UK earlier this year found that women were paid on average £14,800 less than men, almost exactly the same gap as identified in the previous year's research.

James Bennett, global managing director of eFinancialCareers said: 'We would all like to think that the gender pay gap in financial services is narrowing. But male-female income disparity seems to persist, and it is disappointing to see that no progress has been made.'

The survey's findings suggest that the pay differences did not seem to have an impact on the level of satisfaction with salary. Overall, 43% of women declared themselves satisfied with their base salary, slightly more than men (40%).

The research also showed that women are just as likely to want to change firms this year (42%) as men (40%). While better career opportunities are the main motivation for going elsewhere for both sexes, women (21%) appear more frustrated than men with the lack of recognition for accomplishments (16%).