Airlines, health clinics, fashion brands, and even laser hair removal services are among the Australian businesses facing scrutiny as newly released data reveals significant gender pay gaps. The Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) data dump shows the national gender pay gap has narrowed to 11.2 per cent, a decrease of 0.9 percentage points from the previous year, but disparities remain stark across industries and within individual companies.
The data, compiled from more than 10,500 employers covering 5.9 million workers, reveals that women, on average, earn 88.8 cents for every $1 earned by men when considering total remuneration – including salary, bonuses, and overtime. Whereas half of private sector employers have a gap below the national average, the other half exceed it.
Outgoing WGEA chief executive Mary Wooldridge emphasized the distinction between the gender pay gap and the principle of equal pay for equal work, a legal requirement for 50 years. “The gender pay gap is a different measure,” she said, “looking at the average earnings of women and men in an employer, an industry, or the nation as a whole.” Wooldridge highlighted that the gap is influenced by factors such as women’s greater participation in part-time work, underrepresentation in bonus-heavy roles, and career interruptions for caring responsibilities.
The construction industry exhibits the largest gender pay gap, with women earning 23.8 per cent less than men in total pay – a slight improvement of 1.5 percentage points year-on-year. Women comprise only 10 per cent of the top pay quartile in construction, compared to 37 per cent in the lowest. Mili Peniamina, a casual labourer on Melbourne construction sites, described the experience as “overwhelming and intimidating,” but too noted positive experiences, stating she has been “treated really well.”
Conversely, registered nurse Luke Fowlie, working in a traditionally female-dominated profession, noted occasional surprise from patients regarding his gender, but expressed enthusiasm for the challenges and rewards of the role. He advocates for greater male representation in nursing, believing a more diverse workforce better serves the community.
Several healthcare groups feature prominently among those with the largest reported gaps. Sydney Ultrasound for Women recorded the largest gap at 79.2 per cent, meaning women earn 20.8 cents for every dollar earned by men. A company spokesperson attributed this to the structure of their workforce, with a small number of men in senior positions skewing the average. Other healthcare groups with significant gaps include Adelaide Cardiology, Heart Care Queensland, Heart Care Western Australia, SC Radiology, and Radploy 4.
Artisan Aesthetics, a provider of cosmetic injections and laser hair removal, reported a gender pay gap of 68.2 per cent. Australia’s largest superannuation funds also face scrutiny, with Aware Super (17.8 per cent), Hostplus (17.2 per cent), AustralianSuper (14.6 per cent), Australian Retirement Trust (13.9 per cent), and REST (9.6 per cent) all exhibiting gaps above the national average.
The four major Australian banks – ANZ (17.2 per cent), NAB (18.2 per cent), Westpac (21.6 per cent), and Commonwealth Bank (21.6 per cent) – also reported gender pay gaps exceeding the national average.
The WGEA has identified 244 employers who failed to submit required data, including Adidas, 2XU, and Seafolly. The Laundy Hotels group and ten associated entities, along with numerous McDonald’s franchise holders, were also listed as non-compliant. West Tigers Rugby League Football Pty Ltd, bakery Laurent, and Mittagong RSL Club also failed to submit reports on time.
