First Nations women have the largest gender pay gap in Australia, a new study by Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) has found.
The report, "New perspectives on old problems", found that First Nations women earn on average 35 percent less than average Australian male workers. The pay gap for First Nations women was also almost 10 percentage points greater than for females generally.
Prof Nareen Young, Director of the University of Technology Sydney's Centre for Indigenous People and Work contributed to the study with JSA. She said the research revealed that on average for every dollar earned by male Australian workers, First Nations women only earn 65 cents.
"We will not close the gap until we have overcome the gendered pay gap for First Nations women," Prof Young said.
"The pay gap is a productivity issue for all women and families, but for First Nations women it's a 'closing the gap' issue as well."
Prof Young said the 35 percent pay gap has a cascading effect on all other elements of social and economic well-being.
"It impacts on the ability of First Nations women to access decent housing, provide for their children's education and give their families the best start in life," Prof Young said.
"More broadly, the gender pay gap is a major barrier to economic independence and self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres strait Islander peoples," she said.
Prof Young said that the gender pay gap had its roots in history.
"The forced labour, stolen wages and indentured work for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in Australia's recent history is linked to their culturally specific skills in Aboriginal communities being undervalued when it comes to wages."
Today, the concentrated job roles available to First Nations women help perpetuate the gap.
"JSA's research found that just over half (53%) of First Nations workers were in moderately, highly or almost completely female dominated occupations, compared to just under a third (31%) of the total workforce. And we know that female dominated occupations often pay less than male dominated occupations," Prof Young said.
However, Prof Young said that across Australia First Nations women were successfully closing the gendered pay gap.
"Increasingly, our women are breaking through the glass ceilings into commercial leadership, working in non-traditional roles or starting their own businesses."
"But unless there is continued momentum from governments and employers, these women will remain exceptions rather than the rule," Prof Young said.
Prof Young commended JSA on its research.
"These results show exactly why JSA's research is so vital. We have long called for intersectional pay gap data like this to be collected and monitored because metrics matter as 'what gets measured gets done,'" Prof Young said.
