Gender Pay Gap Is Smaller Than It’s Been For 20 Years, But Still Way Off

Australia's National Gender Pay Gap Closer Than It Has Been For 20 Years

Oh, the gender pay gap. A thing of much debate (which makes absolutely no sense because two people doing the exact same job should get the same money for doing said job despite what’s between their legs, no? It just seems bloody logical) and definitely not a gap that has been closed yet. But in absolutely brilliant news, we are definitely heading in the right direction.

The Aussie Government backed Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) today announced that the national gender pay gap has reached its lowest level in 20 years at 14.6% or $244.80 per week. These stats were determined using the latest Average Weekly Earnings data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, so in other words, quite legit.

By collecting and analysing data, employers know where their gender equality hotspots are and can take action to improve them,” said Libby Lyons, Director of the WGEA, “However, we cannot become complacent as there is still much work to do…Pay gaps close when leaders see the numbers.

This improvement in the gender pay gap proves that actions speak louder than words. If every employer in Australia did a pay audit, analysed the results and then took action, we would eventually consign the national gender pay gap to the annals of history.

But the fight isn’t over yet.

That’s STILL symbolic of an extra 62 days that women have to work to earn the same dosh as their male counterparts. To add weight to this 62 gap Equal Pay Day this year falls on August 31st, 62 days after the End Of Financial Year. See what they did there?

The gender pay gap is a symptom of a broader issue. It reflects the fact that women’s work is traditionally undervalued and women are often paid less than men. Average full-time salaries are lower for women than men in every occupation and industry in Australia. Women are under-represented in senior executive and management roles and female-dominated occupations and industries attract lower pay than male-dominated ones,” Lyons explained.

I honestly cannot fathom why it’s still a thing, I haven’t yet heard an intelligent argument for why the gap exists in the first place, but it’s CLOSER you guys and progress is exciting.

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