Australia's national gender pay gap has dropped to its lowest level in more than 20 years due to a record number of women being in full-time work.
The Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) calculated that the national gender pay gap was 14.1% for full-time employees, which amounts to a wage differential of AUS$239.80 (US$170.57) per week between men and women. On average, full-time females earned AUS$1,455.80 (US$1,035.50) while their male equivalents took home AUS$1,695.60 (US$1,206.06).
Financy attributed the drop in the pay gap to the fact that a record number of women were now in full-time work. As of January, there were more than 5.5 million females in full-time employment compared to 5.49 in December.
Libby Lyons, the WGEA’s director, welcomed the news. “This latest drop in the national gender pay gap supports the results from the Agency’s own data,” she told Marie Claire. “Over the five years of reporting, there has been a strong increase in employer action on gender equality. As a result, we are seeing some real improvements."
For example, more companies were analysing their data for pay gaps and taking action to ensure women and men were equally rewarded and remunerated. “These actions by Australian employers are a key contributing factor in the ongoing decrease in the gender pay gap," Lyons said.
But she added that the continuing gap also remained an important reminder that women continued to face significant barriers in the workplace, particularly in terms of pay, and she called on all Australian employers to take action on addressing the issue.
"It is not hard,” Lyons said. “Do a pay gap analysis. Develop an action plan with targets. Report the results to the executive and board and monitor your progress. It is that easy. If every employer did this, we would close the gender pay gap pretty quickly.”
The WGEA’s data also showed that the main factors contributing to the pay gap were discrimination, female-dominated jobs and industries continuing to attract lower wages, women's disproportionate share of unpaid caring and domestic work, as well as a lack of workplace flexibility.
OTHER STORIES THAT MAY INTEREST YOU
Australia safeguards slaves through labour crackdown
A third of temporary migrant workers in Australia suffer wage theft
Australia tries to simplify single touch payroll for small firms
Australia's national gender pay gap has dropped to its lowest level in more than 20 years due to a record number of women being in full-time work.
The Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) calculated that the national gender pay gap was 14.1% for full-time employees, which amounts to a wage differential of AUS$239.80 (US$170.57) per week between men and women. On average, full-time females earned AUS$1,455.80 (US$1,035.50) while their male equivalents took home AUS$1,695.60 (US$1,206.06).
Financy attributed the drop in the pay gap to the fact that a record number of women were now in full-time work. As of January, there were more than 5.5 million females in full-time employment compared to 5.49 in December.
Libby Lyons, the WGEA’s director, welcomed the news. “This latest drop in the national gender pay gap supports the results from the Agency’s own data,” she told Marie Claire. “Over the five years of reporting, there has been a strong increase in employer action on gender equality. As a result, we are seeing some real improvements."
For example, more companies were analysing their data for pay gaps and taking action to ensure women and men were equally rewarded and remunerated. “These actions by Australian employers are a key contributing factor in the ongoing decrease in the gender pay gap," Lyons said.
But she added that the continuing gap also remained an important reminder that women continued to face significant barriers in the workplace, particularly in terms of pay, and she called on all Australian employers to take action on addressing the issue.
"It is not hard,” Lyons said. “Do a pay gap analysis. Develop an action plan with targets. Report the results to the executive and board and monitor your progress. It is that easy. If every employer did this, we would close the gender pay gap pretty quickly.”
The WGEA’s data also showed that the main factors contributing to the pay gap were discrimination, female-dominated jobs and industries continuing to attract lower wages, women's disproportionate share of unpaid caring and domestic work, as well as a lack of workplace flexibility.
OTHER STORIES THAT MAY INTEREST YOU
Australia safeguards slaves through labour crackdown
A third of temporary migrant workers in Australia suffer wage theft
Australia tries to simplify single touch payroll for small firms
