Australia's Public Sector Gender Pay Gap Data Released
Newly published data reveals lower gender pay gaps in the public sector compared to private sector employers in Australia.
Australia's largest public sector employers have disclosed their gender pay gap data for the first time, indicating that these gaps are smaller on average than those observed in the private sector.
The data, released by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, follows legislative changes enacted in 2023 that facilitate the reporting of pay disparities.
Notable public sector employers, including Australia Post, the Australian Tax Office, Reserve Bank, and CSIRO, are among those that have had their pay gaps published.
The findings reveal that approximately half of Commonwealth public sector employers report a median total remuneration gender pay gap of less than 4.8 percent, contrasting with an average gap of 8.9 percent found in the private sector.
Furthermore, nearly half of the public sector organizations maintain a gender pay gap within the target range of +/-5 percent, whereas only 31 percent of private sector employers fall within this benchmark.
Additionally, the data highlights that more than half of the public sector employers improved their median total remuneration gender pay gap over the past year.
In terms of representation, gender distribution in higher pay brackets is more balanced within the public sector, with women occupying 47 percent of the highest-paid positions.
Mary Wooldridge, chief executive of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, noted the achievements in narrowing the gender pay gap and emphasized the importance of long-term strategies aimed at enhancing gender equality at work.
She commented on the notable increase in employers conducting gender pay gap analyses and taking action based on their findings.
Despite the progress reported, Wooldridge acknowledged that further efforts are necessary to advance workplace gender equality.
She highlighted the significance of addressing barriers that affect men, particularly regarding the uptake of primary carer's leave, and stressed the need for a cultural shift that encourages men to participate actively in caregiving roles without fear of negative repercussions.
The data, released by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, follows legislative changes enacted in 2023 that facilitate the reporting of pay disparities.
Notable public sector employers, including Australia Post, the Australian Tax Office, Reserve Bank, and CSIRO, are among those that have had their pay gaps published.
The findings reveal that approximately half of Commonwealth public sector employers report a median total remuneration gender pay gap of less than 4.8 percent, contrasting with an average gap of 8.9 percent found in the private sector.
Furthermore, nearly half of the public sector organizations maintain a gender pay gap within the target range of +/-5 percent, whereas only 31 percent of private sector employers fall within this benchmark.
Additionally, the data highlights that more than half of the public sector employers improved their median total remuneration gender pay gap over the past year.
In terms of representation, gender distribution in higher pay brackets is more balanced within the public sector, with women occupying 47 percent of the highest-paid positions.
Mary Wooldridge, chief executive of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, noted the achievements in narrowing the gender pay gap and emphasized the importance of long-term strategies aimed at enhancing gender equality at work.
She commented on the notable increase in employers conducting gender pay gap analyses and taking action based on their findings.
Despite the progress reported, Wooldridge acknowledged that further efforts are necessary to advance workplace gender equality.
She highlighted the significance of addressing barriers that affect men, particularly regarding the uptake of primary carer's leave, and stressed the need for a cultural shift that encourages men to participate actively in caregiving roles without fear of negative repercussions.
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