[Australia] Gender pay gaps published for first time

The Australian government is taking steps to improve workplace gender equality by publishing the gender pay gaps for nearly 5,000 Australian private sector employers for the very first time, Workplace Gender Equality Agency reports.

The move follows reforms passed by Parliament in 2023, encouraging employer action to speed up progress to close gender pay gaps in the workplace.

Senator Katy Gallagher - Minister for Women - reportedly said the publication of employer gender pay gaps is a pivotal moment for gender equality in Australia.

“The release of employer gender pay gaps marks a historic step towards transparency and accountability in addressing gender inequality,” Minister Gallagher said.

“The gender pay gap is a persistent and complex problem that costs the Australian economy $51.8 billion every year.

“Transparency and accountability are critical for driving change. By shining a light on gender pay gaps at an employer level, we are arming individuals and organisations with the evidence they need to take meaningful action to accelerate closing the gender pay gap in Australian workplaces.”

The Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) published base salary and total remuneration median gender pay gaps for private sector employers in Australia with 100 or more employees.

The results reportedly reveal that:

• 30 per cent of employers have a median gender pay gap between the target range of -5 per cent and +5 per cent.
• 62 per cent of median employer gender pay gaps are over 5 per cent and in favour of men.
• The rest (8 per cent) are less than -5 per cent and in favour of women.
• Across all employers, 50 per cent have a gender pay gap of over 9.1 per cent.

The publication of these employers’ gender pay gaps and workforce composition offers an opportunity to assess their performance on gender equality and act to improve it.

“It is encouraging to see that gender pay gaps for almost one-third of employers are close to gender parity within their workforce,” Mary Wooldridge - WGEA CEO - said.

“All employers should be aiming for a gender pay gap within +/-5 per cent. This range allows for normal business fluctuations and employee movements, while signifying that an employer has a focus on identifying and addressing inequalities and is taking action to ensure there is gender equality throughout an organisation.”

Significant variation was reportedly shown in the gender pay gap across different industries. From the Construction Industry where the mid-point employer gender pay gap is 31.8 per cent to the Accommodation and Food Services Industry with a mid-point employer gender pay gap of 1.9 per cent.

Ms Wooldridge said, “Particularly for those employers whose gender pay gaps are higher than their Industry peers, publication of the results today is a catalyst for action and change.

“The gender pay gap is a widely used, internationally recognised measure for gender equality. Publishing employer’s gender pay gaps brings transparency to those employers who have low median gender pays gaps and those that don’t.

“The time for talk and excuses is over. Change takes action and employers need to double down on ensuring all employees are fairly represented and equally valued and rewarded in their workplace,” she said.

Companies’ gender pay gaps are available here on the Workplace Gender Equality Agency website.

Source: Workplace Gender Equality Agency

(Link and quotes via original reporting)

The Australian government is taking steps to improve workplace gender equality by publishing the gender pay gaps for nearly 5,000 Australian private sector employers for the very first time, Workplace Gender Equality Agency reports.

The move follows reforms passed by Parliament in 2023, encouraging employer action to speed up progress to close gender pay gaps in the workplace.

Senator Katy Gallagher - Minister for Women - reportedly said the publication of employer gender pay gaps is a pivotal moment for gender equality in Australia.

“The release of employer gender pay gaps marks a historic step towards transparency and accountability in addressing gender inequality,” Minister Gallagher said.

“The gender pay gap is a persistent and complex problem that costs the Australian economy $51.8 billion every year.

“Transparency and accountability are critical for driving change. By shining a light on gender pay gaps at an employer level, we are arming individuals and organisations with the evidence they need to take meaningful action to accelerate closing the gender pay gap in Australian workplaces.”

The Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) published base salary and total remuneration median gender pay gaps for private sector employers in Australia with 100 or more employees.

The results reportedly reveal that:

• 30 per cent of employers have a median gender pay gap between the target range of -5 per cent and +5 per cent.
• 62 per cent of median employer gender pay gaps are over 5 per cent and in favour of men.
• The rest (8 per cent) are less than -5 per cent and in favour of women.
• Across all employers, 50 per cent have a gender pay gap of over 9.1 per cent.

The publication of these employers’ gender pay gaps and workforce composition offers an opportunity to assess their performance on gender equality and act to improve it.

“It is encouraging to see that gender pay gaps for almost one-third of employers are close to gender parity within their workforce,” Mary Wooldridge - WGEA CEO - said.

“All employers should be aiming for a gender pay gap within +/-5 per cent. This range allows for normal business fluctuations and employee movements, while signifying that an employer has a focus on identifying and addressing inequalities and is taking action to ensure there is gender equality throughout an organisation.”

Significant variation was reportedly shown in the gender pay gap across different industries. From the Construction Industry where the mid-point employer gender pay gap is 31.8 per cent to the Accommodation and Food Services Industry with a mid-point employer gender pay gap of 1.9 per cent.

Ms Wooldridge said, “Particularly for those employers whose gender pay gaps are higher than their Industry peers, publication of the results today is a catalyst for action and change.

“The gender pay gap is a widely used, internationally recognised measure for gender equality. Publishing employer’s gender pay gaps brings transparency to those employers who have low median gender pays gaps and those that don’t.

“The time for talk and excuses is over. Change takes action and employers need to double down on ensuring all employees are fairly represented and equally valued and rewarded in their workplace,” she said.

Companies’ gender pay gaps are available here on the Workplace Gender Equality Agency website.

Source: Workplace Gender Equality Agency

(Link and quotes via original reporting)