The Workplace Gender Equality Agency data indicates Australia still has a sizable and pervasive gender pay gap. The WGEA scorecard provides a comprehensive insight into workplace gender equality in Australia, using information reported to WGEA in its annual Employer Census.

• ·         The total remuneration gender pay gap has dropped by 0.6 percentage points to 21.1%, when compared to last year. With CEO and Head of Business data added in for the first time, it has increased marginally to 21.8%.
• ·         Women earn, on average, 78c for every dollar men earn, equating to $28,425 less each year
• ·         50% of employers have an average total remuneration gender pay gap over 12.1% and a median gender pay gap over 8.9% (decreased from 9.1% last year)
• ·         A majority of employers overall (56.4%) and the majority in every industry improved their average total remuneration gender pay gap over the last year

Employers are stepping up

• ·         The proportion of employers conducting a gender pay gap analysis increased 13pp to 68%. Of those, 90% did the analysis in the past 12 months and the proportion taking action on the results increased 15pp to 75%
• ·         More employers have a gender equality policy (up 20pp to 51%) and more employers consulted their employees (up 22pp to 69%)
• ·         Nearly half of all employers (45%) are setting targets. Of those, 68% are setting targets to increase women in management, 59% set targets to reduce their gender pay gap and 35% to have a gender-balanced governing body
• ·         More employers are offering paid parental leave (up 5pp to 68%) and a greater proportion of primary carer parental leave (up 3pp to 17%) is being taken by men

Action to improve low wages in women-dominated industries has reduced the gap

• ·         WGEA’s analysis found the most significant contributor to the gender pay gap reduction is an increase in the wages of low paid workers, particularly in Residential Aged Care, where women make up approximately 80% of employees

There is more work to be done

• ·         Just 1 in 4 CEO/HOBs are women and the gender pay gap for these key roles is the highest of all managers at 27.1%. Women CEO/HOBs are paid, on average, $158,632 less in total remuneration than men
• ·         1 in 4 boards still have no women and in men-dominated industries this is 41%
• ·         100% of occupations and industries have a gender pay gap in favour of men
• ·         30% of women work part-time, but only 7% of manager roles are part-time
• ·         28% of employers are not collecting information on the prevalence of sexual harassment in their workplace.

The full results of WGEA’s 2023-24 Employer Census, including comparisons at the national, industry and employer level can be found in the Data Explorer on our website.

This will not include employer gender pay gaps. These results will be released in early 2025.