This 5th edition of the She’s Price(d)less report analyses the contributing drivers of the gender pay gap in Australia to explain why the gender pay gap exists and where it needs to be addressed the most. It finds systemic drivers remain the largest contributors to the pay gap in 2023. It identifies key drivers as unequal distribution of hours spent on care, family and workforce participation, as well as the types of jobs women and men engage in (workforce gender segregation).

It provides policymakers and business leaders with evidence-based insight to better understand and take more informed action to reduce the gender pay gap in Australia.

Key findings

• Australia’s gender pay gap is costing the economy an estimated $1.26 billion a week in equivalent earnings.
• The hourly pay gap increased from 6.5% in 2020 to 7.3% in 2023.
• As women’s level of responsibility in the workforce increases, the pay gap widens.
• Lower rates of pay in the occupations and industries where women are more likely to be employed accounted for 37% of the gender pay gap.
• Women are more likely to be employed on a casual basis or to be working reduced weekly hours, compared to men.