PROGRESS on closing Australia’s gender pay gap has stalled, a government report has found.

The Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) today published its annual employer census, finding that the gender pay gap for the financial year 2021-2022 was 22.8%.

It marks the first time that progress on reducing the gap has stalled, which means that men, on average, earned A$26,596 (RM79,500) more than women, reported Xinhua.

Seventy per cent of employers reported having a pay gap that favoured male employees.

WGEA director Mary Wooldridge said the figures should act as a wake-up call to encourage employers to take urgent action.

“At a time when Australia is experiencing critical skills and labour shortage, WGEA’s annual employer census shows that too many employers have failed to step up on gender equality leaving many women no better off than they were 12 months ago,” she said in a statement.

“Lasting change requires employers to make bold, creative choices that send a signal to all employees that gender equality is a core part of their business strategy and a priority for those in leadership and managerial roles.”

Females accounted for 22% of chief executive officers, up 5% since 2014, and more than 20% of corporate boards feature no women.

Men were more likely to hold managerial positions, even in female-dominated industries such as healthcare and education.

Fifty-three per cent of employers have set some form of a target for gender equality in the workplace, with most aiming to put more women in leadership positions. – Bernama, December 12, 2022.