‘Every industry in Australia’ still favours men in pay

As Equal Pay Day arrives, the persistent gender pay gap remains a stark reminder of ongoing pay disparities, highlighting the urgent need for meaningful change in workplaces today.

Yesterday (19 August) marked Equal Pay Day, a stark reminder that, on average, women in Australia must work an additional 50 days into the new financial year to earn the same pay as men.

The day, established by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA), highlights the persistent disparities in pay, opportunities, and outcomes between women and men in the workforce, emphasising the urgent need for meaningful action.

WGEA data revealed that more than eight in 10 Australian employers (84.7 per cent) still have gender pay gaps outside the target range of ±5 per cent

The national gender pay gap, calculated from Australian Bureau of Statistics data, is driven by three primary factors: “gender segregation of occupations and industries, unequal distribution of caring and family responsibilities, and discrimination in the workplace”.

To mark this occasion, this year WGEA launched a new online calculator allowing employees to determine the specific Equal Pay Day date for their workplace based on their employer’s gender pay gap results.

Mary Wooldridge, CEO of WGEA, said this year’s campaign aims to shine a light on workplace-specific gender pay gaps and generate important conversations about the actions needed to close them.

“Equal Pay Day is an important day to start a conversation about the gender pay gap at your workplace and the plans to reduce it,” Wooldridge said.

“Employees can now find out what your employer is doing to address the issues that drive your workplace’s gender pay gap, why it exists and what can be done about it.

“For workplace leaders, Equal Pay Day is a chance to consult with your employees, let them know you are serious and discuss how to take meaningful action on gender equality.”

While many may not fully grasp the significance of the gender pay gap, Wooldridge highlighted that it impacts every profession and industry, including women-dominated or gender-balanced industries, where gaps still consistently favour men.

“Every industry in Australia, including those that are women-dominated or that are gender-balanced, has a gender pay gap in favour of men,” Wooldridge said.

“Recent legislative changes, including publishing individual employer gender pay gaps and to require large employers to select Gender Equality Targets, aim to motivate employers to understand their gender pay gap and take meaningful action to address it.

“Equal Pay Day reminds us that there is still significant work to do to achieve equal and fair workplaces for all people.”

New research from Jobs and Skills Australia revealed even more pronounced disparities for First Nations women, who earn on average 35 per cent less than male Australian workers – nearly 10 percentage points higher than the overall female workforce gap.

The report, New Perspectives on Old Problems, also highlights that for every dollar earned by male workers, First Nations women receive just 65¢.

Professor Nareen Young, director of the University of Technology Sydney’s Centre for Indigenous People and Work, who contributed to the study, said the pay disparity is both a productivity issue for women generally and a critical “closing the gap” issue for First Nations communities.

“We will not close the gap until we have overcome the gendered pay gap for First Nations women,” Young said.

“The pay gap is a productivity issue for all women and families, but for First Nations women, it’s a ‘closing the gap’ issue as well.”