The 10 industries where Australia's gender pay gap has widened in the past year
Despite major progress in closing Australia's gender pay gap over the past decade, 10 industries saw the difference in pay between men and women widen last year.
Wages have grown more unequal in several industries where women's wage growth has lagged behind the national average, and men dominate higher-paying roles, according to new research from Money.com.au, an Australian financial comparison platform.
The gender pay gap describes when men's opportunities and outcomes in the workplace are greater than women's.
Closing the gender pay gap means that people are able to access and enjoy equal rewards, resources and opportunities regardless of gender, not necessarily outcomes that are exactly the same for all.
However, Australia could still close its gender pay gap by 2036 is current wage growth trends continue, research suggests.
"To drive meaningful and measurable change across all industries and workplaces, it's crucial to keep the conversation going among businesses, leaders, and both women and men," said Money.com.au's Finance Expert, Fi Ahlstrom.
Read on to find out the industries that pay women less.
10. Administrative and support services (+0.2%)
Administrative and support services industry, over half of which is female (52 per cent), saw a slight increase in the gender pay gap.
The industry includes roles in employment agencies, administrative services, domestic and commercial cleaning, pest control, gardening services, packaging services, debt collection, call centres, and other day-today- support activities for businesses.
9. Rental, hiring and real estate services (+0.3%)
The difference between men's and women's wages in the rental, hiring and real estate services industry increased slightly last year.
The industry includes businesses providing motor vehicles, transport equipment, farm animals & bloodstock, video and other electronic media, heavy machinery, scaffolding, furniture and appliances, and intangible assets (e.g. patents and trademarks.
It also includes real estate agencies, management services, auctioning services, and valuing services for real estate.
8. Electricity, gas, water and waste services (+0.6%)
This majority-male industry saw a 0.6 per cent increase in wage gap last year.
With just 27 per cent of its workforce being women, the industry includes electricians and plumbers, as well as other businesses providing electricity, gas through mains systems, water, drainage, and sewage services.
7. Accommodation and food services (+0.9%)
The accommodation and food services, services industry, whose workforce is mostly young, female, and part-time, saw a slight increase in the gender pay gap in the past year.
With a median age of 25, the industry constitutes those working in cafes, restaurants, takeaways, pubs, and bars, as well as hotels, motels, serviced apartments, and other short-term accommodation for visitors.
6. Arts and recreation services (+0.9%)
Female artists, musicians, writers, and performers are being paid even less than their male counterparts in the past year, with a 0.9 per cent increase in the gender pay gap.
The industry also includes venue operators, those working in sports and recreational facilities, museums, zoos, and nature reserves, as well as gambling activities.
Despite this gap, the women and men's share of the industry workforce in Australia is even.
5. Financial and insurance services (+0.9%)
Tying with the last two industries for an increase in gender pay gap is the financial and insurance service industries, which is constituted of investment advisers, stockbrokers, financial planners, wealth management firms, insurance agents and brokers, superannuation providers, and insurance companies.
4. Healthcare and social assistance (+1%)
The healthcare and social assistance industry saw a 1 per cent increase in the gender pay gap, to impact its over three-quarters female workforce.
Likely contributing to this gap is the fact that more women work in lower-paying jobs in the industry.
Looking at nurses and midwives, the percentage women in the workforce goes up to 88 per cent, compared to 45 per cent of medical practitioners.
Similarly, 86 per cent of aged care workers and 97 per cent of child care workers in 2024 were female.
3. Information media and telecommunications (+1.3%)
With a 40 per cent female workforce, the information media and telecommunications industry saw its gender pay gab widen by 1.3 per cent in the past year.
This industry includes those in radio and television broadcasting, newspaper, magazine, book, and directory publishing, motion picture and sound recording publication, and internet publishing and broadcasting.
It also encompasses telecommunication services, internet service providers, data processing, web hosting, libraries, and other information services.
2. Transport, postal and warehousing (+1.6%)
The transport, postal, and warehousing industry encompasses businesses involved with transporting passengers and freight via taxis, luxury car hire services, road, rail, water or air, as well as postal, courier pick-up and delivery services, scenic and sightseeing transport, and storage services.
Less than a quarter (22 per cent) of the industry is female.
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