Australia Faces 21.5 Years to Close National Gender Pay Gap

Equal Pay Day on August 19, 2025, highlights the ongoing gender pay gap in Australia, where women must work an additional 50 days to earn the same as men, reflecting an average national pay gap of 11.5%. The gap is driven by occupational segregation, unequal family responsibilities, and workplace discrimination, with over 84% of Australian employers reporting pay disparities outside the acceptable range. Despite progress since 2017, the timeline to close the gender pay gap stands at 21.5 years, with significant industry divides—sectors like Retail Trade have made gains while Financial and Insurance Services have regressed. The Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) encourages employers to conduct pay gap analyses and engage employees in conversations to address these disparities, supported by tools like the new calculator revealing workplace-specific Equal Pay Day dates. Globally, similar challenges persist, as seen in South Africa where women earn 23% to 35% less than men for equal work, underscoring the need for stronger pay transparency and enforcement of equal pay legislation. The upcoming Financy Women’s Index report will further detail structural barriers and economic indicators related to gender financial equality, emphasizing the necessity of ongoing efforts to achieve true pay equity.