Gender Pay Gap in Australia
Inhaltsverzeichnis
Gender Pay Gap in Australia
The gender pay gap currently lies at 23.1 per cent, or $26,853 a year, in Austalia, however, regional variations occur. The median female wage was 90% of the median male wage. This gap has remained relatively steady over the past decade.
The Equal Pay Day has been initiated in 2009 for the first time.
Gender Gaps
Gender gaps are not only apparent in remuneration, but occur in various other aspects. Here, a selection of remarkable gender gaps is listed:
- Labour force participation rate: 78 per cent males vs. 66 per cent female
- Persons not in the labour force: 22 per cent males vs. 34 per cent females
- Educational attainment (attainment of year 12 formal qualification): 86 per cent males vs. 90 per cent females
- Life expectancy: 80.3 years for males vs. 84.4 years for females
- Time caring for children: 3:55 hours per day for males vs. 8:33 hours per day for females.
What can be clearly seen from this list (see Australian Bureau of Statistics: Gender Indicators, Australia, Aug 2016 for further indicators) that women tend to be more educated and healthy, yet, they are on average missing in the labour market, as they are more involved in caring for children.
Equal Pay Day in Australia
The Equal Pay Day 2016 has been held on September 8. As the Australian financial year closes in June, the counting of days until the day when women start to earn in the new financial year starts on July 1. Otherwise, the same calculation of the EPD is applied as in European countries. Respectively, the Equal Pay Day 2015 has been celebrated on September 4.
In April 2009, BPW Australia determined to galvanise advocacy around the issue of equal pay and gender inequity. Partnering was an essential asset to the Equal Pay Campaign. In July 2009, BPW Australia reached a landmark agreement with the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) signing a Memorandum of Understanding to form the Equal Pay Alliance. Since then, 58 organisations, including NGOs, employers and employee representations, have joined the alliance.
References
About the Australian Gender Pay Gap
Australian Bureau of Statistics: Gender Indicators, Australia, Aug 2015
Related Links
Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU)
Workplace Gender Equality Agency
