South Australia continues to be a trailblazer for women, recording the lowest gender pay gap in the nation, new statistics show.
Latest Workplace Gender Equality Agency and ABS data shows SA is leading the nation when it comes to pay for women, down from an 8.5 per cent gender pay gap in 2020 to 7 per cent in 2021.
This is compared to other states including Victoria and Queensland recording a wage gap increase.
Not only is South Australia's gender pay gap the lowest – it far exceeds the national average of 14.2 per cent.
It comes as the Marshall Liberal Government is delivering record numbers of women in jobs and has just released a new women's strategy - the South Australian Women's Leadership and Economic Security Strategy 2021-24 – to drive women and girls to live, study and work in SA.
The new strategy specifically commits to working across government to address the gender pay gap.
Minister for Human Services Michelle Lensink said the Marshall Liberal Government is focused on further driving change for women and girls.
"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," said Minister Lensink.
"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.
"While we will continue to strive to do better, there is no doubt South Australia is a very attractive place for women to work, live, study and realise their full potential.
"As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Marshall Liberal Govenrment has a strong, new four-year women's strategy to ensure women – and girls – thrive.
"Women are crucial to South Australia's future and that's why we're driving a host of emerging career paths from space to defence and construction to ensure young girls have the same opportunities as men to participate in the economy.
"Women's participation is great for the state, for employers, for communities and most importantly, for women themselves."
Edible blooms owner Kelly Baker Jamieson, who won SA Telstra Business Women of the Year in 2011, said the latest WGEA results were a step in the right direction.
"As a women-led business, I am so pleased to see this result for South Australia," said Ms Baker Jamieson.
"We now have a clear opportunity as a state to be the first to close the gap for equal pay."
State / Territory |
May-20 |
May-21 |
Difference (pp) |
Western Australia |
22.7% |
21.9% |
-0.8 |
Queensland |
15.3% |
15.8% |
0.5 |
New South Wales |
15.3% |
14.5% |
-0.8 |
Northern Territory |
12.2% |
12.7% |
0.5 |
Victoria |
9.6% |
12.2% |
2.6 |
Tasmania |
8.5% |
8.4% |
-0.1 |
A.C.T |
8.0% |
7.9% |
-0.1 |
South Australia |
8.5% |
7.0% |
-1.5 |
*Full-Time Adult Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings gender pay gap by state and territory May 2020 – May 2021. Australia's Gender Pay Gap Statistics
