Status of Women Report Card: Australia ranked 26th globally for gender equality

Aussie women are still falling behind men in the workplace despite more females employed in 2023 than the previous year.

Aussie women are still falling behind men in the workplace as they battle sexual harassment and anxiety despite more women being employed in 2023 than the previous year.

The second annual Status of Women Report Card released on Thursday revealed Australia had the fourth highest level of tertiary educated women in the OECD.

But Australian women were still earning less than men and were less likely to be in leadership positions, with only nine per cent of chief executives in the ASX 300 listed as women.

Aussie women are still facing pressures in the workplace more than their male counterparts. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

Women are also doing nine hours per week more of unpaid work and care than men.

Other concerning data also found 26 per cent of women who had recently experienced sexual harassment experienced it at work.

Meanwhile, almost one-third of women aged 15 to 34 years were diagnosed with depression and/or anxiety in 2021.

Minister for Women Senator Katy Gallagher said the report was putting data at the forefront of the discussion on gender equality in Australia.

Senator Katy Gallagher says the government is working on improving women’s status in the workplace. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“I’m determined to use this report card, alongside other important mechanisms like the reporting of employer pay gaps to recognise where we are making progress and highlight areas where we must redouble our efforts,” Ms Gallagher said.

“Since the first report card was issued last year, Australia’s world gender equality ranking has jumped up 17 places from 43rd to 26th as a direct result of Labor’s commitment to gender equal representation in politics.”

Australia ranked 26th globally for gender equality compared to 43rd in the 2023 report card, while the gender pay gap hit a record low of 12 per cent.

There’s also more employers offering paid parental leave equally to women and men, with 21 per cent giving employees the opportunity to take the time off.

Women are earning less than men in the Aussie workplace. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

The report card comes after the government released its Working for Women: A Strategy for Gender Equality this week.

“The national strategy envisages a future of equality in Australia for all Australians,” Ms Gallagher said at National Press Club on Thursday.

“That means an Australia where your gender doesn’t define how your life unfolds, the rights you enjoy, the choices you make, the chances or opportunities you get or pursue.

“This is about bringing people together. When an economy and society works for women, it works for us all.”