Gender Pay Gap In Public Sector is 13.5%, New Report Finds

Women in Australia public sector are earning $19,000 less each year compared to their male conterparts, new data reveals

The data released on Thursday by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency identified women in 2022 were earning 86c for every $1 earned by men.

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The gender pay gap equates to 13.5 per cent in the public sector, compared to the 21.7 per cent difference between men and women in the private sector.

Other key results from the report included:

• Management positions are gender-balanced overall,
• Men are more likely to be paid higher,
• Women an dmen are working full-time flexibly and,
• Men account for 11 per cent of universal or primary carer’s leave taken.

It is the first report published by the WGEA and will set a baseline tom inform employer action and acccelrate the progress in reducing the gender pay gap.

“The Scorecard shows the Commonwealth public sector has benefited from clearly articulated commitments and sector-wide reforms in areas the private sector finds difficult to change, such as gender balance in management positions,” WGEA chief executive Mary Woolridge said.

“Commonwealth public sector employers are also taking actions to deliver flexibility that helps empower more women to take leadership roles and drives gender balance in key management positions.

“But more does need to be done across all employers to continue to reduce the gender pay gap, including to combat stereotypes that deter men from taking parental leave and around women in non-manager roles.” 

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