This paper is the first in a three-part series on new perspectives on gender economic inequality, revealing how much gender shapes jobs, work and pay across Australia. The report highlights the scale of occupational segregation, which remains largely unchanged over time. 

The paper introduces the new Gender Segregation Intensity Scale (GSIS), designed to measure and monitor changes in occupational segregation and a new gender pay gap data to help fill longstanding evidence gaps. This includes new gender pay gap data for 688 occupations across the economy, along with intersectional pay gap data for First Nations, migrant and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) people. 

The paper is accompanied by a technical report and an Occupational gender pay gap dashboard.

Key findings

• From 2006 to 2021, nearly 70% of jobs stayed at the same gender segregation intensity and today, only 1 in 5 workers are in ‘gender-balanced’ occupations.
• Despite more women participating in the workforce than ever before, men still earn more than women in 98% of occupations.
• Occupation shortages typically worsen as gender segregation intensifies, particularly in almost completely male dominated occupations.
• The impact of inequality is even more evident for First Nations women, who face a 10-year gender pay gap of 38%.
• CALD workers are over or underrepresented in certain jobs across the economy and are slightly more likely to work in gender balanced occupations than the total population.