New data reveals 19% gender pay gap in Gympie council

Jobs traditionally dominated by women at Gympie Regional Council pay significantly less than jobs traditionally dominated by men, with new data revealing a huge gender pay gap among the council’s workforce.

Women-dominated jobs at Gympie Regional Council (CEO Robert Jennings pictured) are falling short of matching their male-dominated counterparts with a wage gap of up to 19 per cent.

Jobs traditionally dominated by women at Gympie Regional Council pay significantly less than jobs traditionally dominated by men, with new data revealing a gender pay gap of up to 19 per cent among the council’s workforce.

Figures provided by the Services Union show the current relative wage gap for graduate level positions at the council was 18-19 per cent.

At the base entry level position, women-dominated positions were earning 6 per cent less than their relative male-dominated equivalents.

The relative wage gap was calculated by measuring the indoor workforce award stream where “most employees … are women” against outdoor jobs.

The union said the relativities of these wages were fixed “under the 1989 structural efficiency principles by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission” and “the wage relativities used in the Queensland Local Government Award 1992 remain intact in our current award today”.

Women-dominated jobs at Gympie Regional Council (CEO Robert Jennings pictured) are falling short of matching their male-dominated counterparts with a wage gap of up to 19 per cent.

The relativities include benchmarks for tertiary education entry points by comparing predominantly male-dominated jobs with female-dominated ones.

The union’s figures reveal Gympie council roles predominantly filled by women at the lowest relative entry point paid less ($69,218.24) than their male-dominated equivalents ($73,344.96).

But the gender pay gap widens significantly at the three-year degree entry point.

At this level women-dominated jobs in the council are paid $78,227.24 compared to the $91,681.20 wage for men, a gap of $13,453 and about 18 per cent.

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The Services Union’s data shows at the three-year graduate degree entry point women-dominated jobs in the council are paid $78,227.24 compared to the $91681.20 wage for men, a gap of $13,453 and about 18 per cent.

At the equivalent level of another year on, that gap widens further to 19 per cent, thanks to a wage comparison of $79,699.36 to $93,881.54.

A Gympie council spokeswoman said the organisation “has a set target of reaching 50-50 split between female and male employees and is committed to equity in the workplace through initiatives such as traineeships, personal development programs, and supporting women in our operational positions and field-based occupations”.

Women accounted for 43 per cent of the council’s overall workforce, and 44 per cent of its leadership positions, she said.

“Matters relating to specific wage conditions are considered as part of certified agreements. Negotiations for the new certified agreements are set to commence in early 2025,” she said.

“While there is no legislative requirement to participate in the gender pay gap data requirements, Council proactively analyses its wage differentials and is always looking for opportunities to improve conditions for its workforce and build Council’s reputation as an employer of choice in the region.”

Services Union local government lead organiser Tom Rivers said the figures showed an ongoing problem which still needs fixing.

Mr Rivers said it was “important that areas that are traditionally female dominated are remunerated equally to areas that are male dominated where the training requirements, skill level and responsibilities are relative”.

“There is a significant gender pay gap issue in Queensland local government,” he said.

“There have been recent changes to the Queensland Industrial Relations Act that have put the gender pay gap to the front of the agenda.

“Councils now must provide detailed information on the gender wage gap and if there is an issue how they propose to address this issue.”