Majority of executives in SA’s public service are women – and they outnumber men across the whole sector

Figures highlight the massive change at the top of SA’s public service among the executives. Search our database to see what they earn.

Women outnumber men in the state’s public sector more than two to one overall, figures show – and more of them are taking the top jobs.

There are more women than men in the vast majority of departments and agencies, with some of the biggest discrepancies in the key areas of education and health.

The most recent Workforce Information Report shows there are 75,309 female workers in the public sector and 33,104 males. Of these, 727 women and 651 men are in executive positions.

The headcounts are not broken down into full-time and part-time employees.

Of the 82 state government agencies listed, only 12 have more male staff.

This includes SA Police, where there are 3759 males and 2203 females; the MFS with 1182 men and 77 women; and, Correctional Services with 1100 men and 835 women.

Across the various health agencies, including SA Health and Local Health Networks, there are 30,070 women and 7990 men, while in education, there are 25,610 females and 7878 males.

Treasurer Rob Lucas said efforts over the past 20 years had resulted in more females entering the public sector.

Treasurer Rob Lucas. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Emma Brasier

“The conditions the public sector offers, the flexibility in terms of full-time, part-time work, the relative access to ­maternity leave and leave without pay, carer’s leave, all those sorts of things, when you compare them to some parts of the private sector are relatively generous,” Mr Lucas said.

“We’re pleased to be able to say for the first time in the state’s history, since we’ve come to government, the ­majority of executives are ­actually female.”

There are 822 women and 548 men in his Treasury and Finance Department.

Proposed legislation that would establish a Gender Equality Commissioner to help identify inequity, such as pay gaps across the public sector, is before state parliament.

SA-Best MLC Connie ­Bonaros introduced the Bill into the Upper House in June.

SA Health said it recruited on merit.

Australian Education Union SA president Lara Golding said the cause of the gender imbalance in the education field was “complex”.

“Some economic modelling shows that because of historical gender pay gaps between female and male-dominated industries, men are more likely to perceive they are giving up a higher potential salary by choosing teaching,” Ms Golding said.

However, she said while ideally students would have a diverse range of teachers, “teaching practices are more important than the gender of the teacher”.