The Department of Human Services (DHS) has revealed that new statistics show South Australia has recorded the lowest gender pay gap in the nation and has adopted a new strategy to capitalise on it.
DHS said the latest Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) and Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data show that the State was leading the nation when it came to women’s pay, down from an 8.5 per cent gender pay gap in 2020 to seven per cent in 2021.
The Department said this compared to other States and Territories including Victoria (from 9.6 per cent to 12.2 per cent); Queensland (15.3 per cent to 15.8 per cent); and the Northern Territory (12.2% to 12.7%) who all recorded a wage gap increase.
DHS said not only was South Australia’s gender pay gap the lowest – it far exceeded the national average of 14.2 per cent.
Minister for Human Services, Michelle Lensink said the recently launched Women’s Leadership and Economic Security Strategy would continue to target the gender pay gap.
“These new statistics reaffirm South Australia is a leading State for women and we’re committed to continuing to drive change for the 900,000 women who live here,” Ms Lensink said.
“South Australia was one of the first places in the world to give women the right to vote, we’re currently the third most liveable city in the world and now we’re well and truly number one in the nation when it comes to gender pay parity,” she said.
Owner of gift shop Edible Blooms, Kelly Baker Jamieson who won the SA Telstra Business Women of the Year in 2011, said the latest WGEA results were a step in the right direction.
“As a woman-led business, I am so pleased to see this result for South Australia,” Ms Baker Jamieson said.
