The latest statistics indicate the reasons below:

1. Female total average earnings rose 4.7 per cent to $1144.30 over the year to November 2022, compared to 2.8 per cent for men, according to the latest data on average wages from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
2. The female unemployment rate declined to 3.3 per cent in April, its lowest level since at least 1978.
3. Around 110,000 more women held full-time jobs in April 2023 than in October last year, according to ABS data.
4. The number of women who are long-term unemployed declined by 4,800 or 11 per cent over the three months to March 2023, to stand at 38,600 – the lowest level recorded since May 2009.
5. The Australian government’s approach to gender equality in the workplace has also helped by approving significant wage increases for aged care employees this year.

Kris Grant, CEO of ASPL Group, suggests that there are several factors contributing to these gains, primarily the emergence of more flexible working arrangements. Most workers report that their workplace now provides access to carers’ leave and permanent part-time employment, while more than half of workers report that their workplace provides paid maternity leave.

Read Kris’ article in the Sydney Morning Herald or Brisbane Times.