Australia’s gender pay gap has dropped to 13 per cent, down from 13.3 per cent, according to new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
As of May 2023, women in Australia earn 87 cents for every dollar earned by men, accounting for a difference of $252.30 in men’s and women’s average weekly ordinary earnings.
The average weekly ordinary earnings for men was $1938.30, as of May, with women’s average weekly ordinary earnings sitting at $1,686.
As the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) highlighted today, over the course of one year the difference in earnings between men and women adds up to $13,119.60 – a signficant figure, especially when considered in the context of the current high cost of living.
WGEA CEO Mary Wooldridge said the latest figures are a signficant drop in the gender pay gap but there was still room for improvement.
“As we celebrate today the incredible performance by the Matildas and the fact their semi-final was the most watched TV event in Australian history, we are also energised by the lowest ever national gender pay gap,” Wooldridge said.
“This momentum is a springboard for renewed action for employers to prioritise gender equality and ensure that we continue to work towards closing the gender pay gap.”
While the overall gender pay gap has dropped, the gap in 10 out of 18 industries has actually increased over the last six months.
However there were some decreases in certain sectors, including a 3.4 percent decrease in the construction industry. There were also decreases in information, media and telecommunications, and education and training.
There are some big changes coming to organisations from 2024, when those with 100 or more employees will be required to keep a public record of their gender pay gaps.
Wooldridge noted that next friday, 25 August, is Equal Pay Day – a marker of the 56 days from the end of the financial year that women have to work to earn the same, on average, as men.
“This year we are calling on employers to recognise that ‘what’s missing matters’ in a whole range of situations, and particularly the missing pay for women matters. And we are asking employers to do something about it,’ Wooldridge said.
“Employers have a key role to play in addressing the entrenched gender norms and stereotypes that are a barrier to women’s progression or full participation in the workplace,”
“With dedicated, intentional action to address the gender pay gap in their organisation, Australian employers will contribute to accelerating progress to close the national gender pay gap.”