Australian Gender Pay Gap Persists Despite Modest Progress

New government data reveals women earn 78 cents for every dollar earned by men, with only 21% of employers meeting equity targets.

The Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) reports a national gender pay gap of 21.8%, equating to an annual difference of $28,425 in total remuneration between men and women.
Only 21% of Australian employers have achieved a pay gap within the target range of -5% to +5%, while 72.2% of employers favor men in average pay.
High-paying industries, such as construction and financial services, continue to show significant pay gaps, though some have seen slight reductions in recent years.
Public disclosure of company-level pay gap data has motivated some employers to implement measures like parental leave policies and flexible work arrangements to address disparities.
WGEA highlights cultural and structural factors, including gender imbalances in senior roles and part-time work, as key contributors to persistent gaps.