5 Things You Need To Know About The Gender Pay Gap

The latest stats to help you brush up on your gender pay gap knowledge.

By Laura Chung

The latest stats to help you brush up on your gender pay gap knowledge.

By Laura Chung

Previous article 5 Ways To Improve Your Sleep Hygiene

Next article 8 Things FW Is Loving Right Now

It’s Equal Pay Day today, which marks the date the average Australian woman must work to make what the average man did the previous financial year. While this is the earliest date in 20 years, it still represents a 62 day pay gap. Progress is being made, but Equal Pay Day should be falling on June 30 every single year. The Workplace Gender Equality Agency has released new statistics on Australia’s gender pay gap. Arm yourself with five simple facts, and put them in your back pocket for the next encounter with a Gender Pay Gap Denier.

Below 15% Matters

Australia’s full-time gender pay gap is 14.6 per cent. This is the first time it has dropped below 15 per cent in the last 20 years.

Each Week, It Matters

Women earn, on average, $244.80 less than men per week. (That’s roughly $12,729.60 a year.)

Industries Matter

The public administration and safety industry has the smallest pay gap of 5.8 per cent, while the highest is in the financial and insurance services at 26.6 per cent.

States And Territories Matter

The state you live in could have a higher pay gap (or a lower one). So far, Tasmania and South Australia are superior.

WA: 22.4 per cent

Northern Territory: 20.5 per cent

QLD: 17.3 per cent

NSW: 13.7 per cent

ACT: 13.1 per cent

VIC: 12.2 per cent

SA: 9.8 per cent

TAS: 9.7 per cent.

Age Matters

The average gender pay gap is smallest for those 20 and under, increases while employees are between 21-34 year old (remaining at those levels until employees reach 44 years old). The gap peaks at 20 per cent for women aged between 44 and 55.