Women wear the trousers. More dads choosing to run households

THE number of women bringing home the bacon has increased in the last six years with almost four in 10 women now the official household breadwinner.

Sebreena Cronin with husband Adrian with kids Jessica 3, Emelie (1 ponytail), Liam, Tayla (2 ponytails, multi coloured flower dress silver shoes, bottom of frame) at their Dural home. FAIR GO for the WEST, Women are the main breadwinners. Sebreena Cronin, husband Adrian And their FOUR children including triplets aged 2!! Sebreena is the main breadwinner in the family her husband is at home and is the primary carer for the children.

THE number of women bringing home the bacon has increased in the last six years with almost four in 10 women now the official household breadwinner.

Almost 40 per cent of the female workforce said they earned more than their partner, according to report revealed through The Daily Telegraph’s Fair Go for the West campaign.

The National Australia Bank reported there had been a jump of almost 11 per cent from 2008 in the number of women being the major breadwinner.

NAB business executive general manager Angela Mentis said the figures suggested barriers keeping women from the workforce, such as starting a family, were breaking down.

“It’s vital we create an environment where female business leaders and women acting as the main breadwinner in their household are seen as the norm, not the exception,” Ms Mentis said.

“While women are still under-represented compared to men when it comes to business ownership, they are becoming economically powerful and increasingly are out-earning their men.”

Demographer Bernard Salt said the growth in female earning power was consistent with a trend that began around the year 2000, when the number of women graduating from universities overtook men, giving women access to better-paying jobs.

Sebreena Cronin, 35, of Dural is a full-time human resources manager and mother of Jessica, four, and triplets Emelie, Liam and Tayla, almost two. She returned to the workforce after maternity leave and husband Adrian became the children’s full-time carer.

“Caring for your children is not a gender-specific job,” Ms Cronin said.

“I love that my children will grow up seeing our situation as the norm and knowing that either mum or dad can be the main breadwinner.”

Fay Calderone, owner of Parramatta-based law firm Matthews Folbigg, said shorter commute times attracted more professional women to work in Western Sydney.

“Employees with children are more attracted to working in Western Sydney for the flexibility and convenience it offers,’’ he said.