Gender Pay Gap in South Australia

The gender pay gap remains an obstacle to economic equality in South Australia. Women continue to earn less than men, affecting their financial security, career opportunities, and long-term well-being. Closing the gender pay gap will improve the lives of women across South Australia.  

On average, for every dollar men earn in South Australia, women earn just over 90 cents. This means women earn about $190 less per week than men, adding up to $9,412 less per year. The report shows that South Australia’s gender pay gap is currently 9.8%. While SA has the third smallest pay gap in Australia, it has grown by 1.8 percentage points since the Taskforce started in 2022. 

The South Australian Gender Pay Gap Taskforce 

The Taskforce is made of representatives from government, business, and gender equality experts. Sarah Andrews MP, Chair of the Taskforce, said their work focused on understanding why the gender pay gap exists and identifying solutions to close it.  

Over the past two years, we have done a lot of research and put together a report that explains the complex reasons behind South Australia’s gender pay gap,  Andrews said.

The Taskforce focused on: 

• Identifying the key factors driving the gender pay gap. 

• Engaging with diverse groups to understand their experiences and challenges. 

• Recommending policies to reduce pay gaps across all sectors, including government, business, and non-profit organisations. 

What causes the gender pay gap?  

The report found three main reasons why women in South Australia earn less than men: 

• Pay discrimination and undervaluing women’s work – Businesses often pay women less than men for doing the same or similar work. 

• Unpaid care responsibilities  – Women are expected to do more unpaid work, like caring for children or family members, making it harder for them to access paid work opportunities and career growth. 

• Gender segregation in jobs – Due to unfair gender stereotypes, women are often excluded from high paying jobs in industries that are male-dominated, such as manufacturing. At the same time, outdated ideas about ‘women’s work’ mean that sectors such as education and care work are undervalued and low-paid.  

Abbey Kendall, a Taskforce member and CEO of the Working Women’s Centre Australia, explained the impact:

The gender pay gap negatively affects women’s lives and the economy. Women in South Australia earn less, save less for retirement, and are less likely to be in leadership roles. Over time, this leads to more financial stress, housing instability, and poverty for women as they get older.— Abbey Kendall, CEO of the Working Women’s Centre Australia

 

 

Steps to Close the Gender Pay Gap 

The report recommends three key areas for action: 

1. Supporting Employers in South Australia 

• Creating online resources to help businesses measure and address gender pay gaps. 

• Launching a statewide awareness campaign on workplace gender equality. 

2.Improving Data and Research on Gender Inequality 

• Establishing an independent research centre focused on gender-based economic equality. 

• Enhancing data collection to better track progress in South Australia. 

3.Strengthening the Role of the Public Sector 

• With over 115,000 employees, the public sector is South Australia’s largest employer and has a critical role to play in setting the standard for gender equality. 

• Implementing gender impact assessments in policy-making. 

• Providing unconscious bias training for hiring managers. 

• Adopting gender-responsive procurement policies. 

Nikki Candy, Director of the Working Women’s Centre SA, emphasised the importance of the report: 

This report confirms what we see every day—women in South Australia continue to face gender pay discrimination. To close the gap, we need action at every level.

With almost two-thirds of the workforce in small and medium-sized businesses, there is a real opportunity for change. At the Working Women’s Centre, we’ll continue to support employers by providing training and practical tools to address their gender pay gaps. 

We will continue working towards a future where women receive equal pay and equal opportunities. — Nikki Candy, Director of the Working Women’s Centre SA

 

The Economic and Social Impact of Pay Inequality  

Research suggests that closing the gender pay gap could add $128 billion to the Australian economy. At a time when South Australia is facing critical skills shortages, failing to address this gap means missing a significant opportunity to drive economic growth. 

The gender pay gap is not just a matter of fairness—it impacts the entire community and has wide-ranging economic and social consequences. Closing the gap would improve women’s economic security and independence while also reducing financial abuse and long-term poverty among women. 

Our state has always been a world leader in gender equality and I want us to continue to lead the way in our shared efforts to close the gender pay gap, said Katrine Hildyard MP, Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence.

For more information on the Gender Pay Gap Taskforce final report, visit the Office for Women South Australia or contact the Working Women’s Centre for workplace legal advice  and training and resources on gender equality in the workplace.