SENATOR THE HON KATY GALLAGHER

MINISTER FOR FINANCE
MINISTER FOR WOMEN
MINISTER FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE
MINISTER FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICES

MEDIA RELEASE

Australians can check new gender pay gap data today with the release of data for more than 10,500 employers, covering nearly 5.9 million workers nationwide.

Today marks the third release of employer Gender Pay Gap reporting where Australians can see how their employer, favourite brand, or future workplace is performing on gender pay gap.

For the first time, Commonwealth public sector employer gender pay gaps have been released alongside the private sector, strengthening transparency and accountability across the economy.

The data, published by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA), shows progress is being made, with more employers in in the target range and the majority of employers reducing their pay gaps compared to last year.

WGEA analysis shows more employers are taking action:

• Half of employers now have an average total remuneration gender pay gap smaller than 11.2 per cent, a reduction of 0.9 percentage points in the past year
• There are more women in high‑paid roles, but women are still more likely to be concentrated in the lowest‑paid roles
• More employers are conducting gender pay gap analysis and consulting employees to inform action on gender equality.

Employers know that flexible work is good for the workforce and is critical to closing the gender pay gap – with more employers examining access to flexible work, parental leave and caring arrangements. When flexible work is genuinely supported, women are more likely to remain in the workforce, progress into senior roles and maintain earnings over their working lives. And men are able to take up caring roles.

As long as inequity exists in job opportunities, pay, progression, flexibility and care between women and men, the gender pay gap will persist.

Australians can access their employer’s gender pay gap and related workplace data via WGEA’s Data Explorer, reinforcing a growing community expectation that this information should be visible, accessible and used to drive change.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Women, Katy Gallagher:

“Today marks the third Gender Pay Gap Reporting Day, and we are seeing that making this data public is helping to shift the dial.

“When you can check the data, you can see how your employer is performing, how your favourite brand stacks up, or how the organisation you want to work for is tracking on gender equality.

“This transparency shines a light on where progress is being made and where more work is needed.

“Gender pay gaps tell us a lot about how workplaces really operate, who gets opportunities, who gets rewarded, and who has the flexibility to manage responsibilities outside of work.

“Flexible work is a key part of the solution. When workplaces genuinely support flexibility, women are more likely to stay connected to work, progress into senior roles and build their lifetime earnings.”

3 March 2026