Men twice as confident as women in asking for a pay rise, survey shows

Eva Osborne

Men are almost twice as confident as women when it comes to asking for a pay increase, according to new research from Bank of Ireland.

Overall, a quarter of the people surveyed reported feeling confident asking for a raise. 32 per cent of men said they feel confident, versus 17 per cent of women.

Then, in terms of personal confidence, men tend to report higher levels, with 80 per cent saying they are confident in themselves compared with 64 per cent of women.

The new Bank of Ireland research focused on national confidence levels across personal finances, employment, and life goals.

Over half (51 per cent) of people said they are confident about their personal financial situation over the next year, and 59 per cent are comfortable discussing money with family or friends.

The research also reveals that people generally feel confident in themselves and their ability to reach personal goals, with men and older adults tending to report higher confidence levels than women and younger groups.

Financial confidence drops noticeably when people think about their long‑term financial prospects or advocating for better pay, Bank of Ireland reported.

Only 30 per cent feel confident they could change jobs for better money if needed, and 43 per cent believe that employment levels will remain stable in 2026.

Confidence levels reduce when people consider potential future outcomes, with only 15 per cent feeling confident that the world will be in a better place this time next year, compared with 64 per cent who are not confident.

Men are more optimistic than women about what next year has in store (21 per cent vs 10 per cent), with younger people tending to be more hopeful.

Commenting on the research, Prof Ian Robertson at Trinity College said: “Confidence is essentially the belief that you can do something, and that your actions will lead to the result you want. It can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

"When people feel confident, they tend to be in a better mood, feel less anxious, take that first step more easily, and communicate more effectively.

"The Bank of Ireland research shows that people in Ireland generally feel more confident about things they can control, and less confident about things they can’t like global stability or even the weather.

"That’s understandable, because confidence isn’t the same as optimism. It’s about taking action even when things are uncertain or make us anxious.

"The research also found that people are less confident when making complex, long-term financial decisions, compared to more immediate, everyday choices.

"This reflects the fact that confidence often depends on having the right knowledge and skills. However, it’s important to note that confidence in longer term financial decision-making can be built over time with the right information, support, and tools.”