LEADERSHIP

Mining remains Australia's least gender diverse sector

THE Australian government's Workplace Gender Equality Agency has released its world-leading annual dataset on gender equality.

Staff reporter
Mining remains Australia's least gender diverse sector

The data covers 19 industries, including mining, and is based on figures required to be submitted by all Australian companies with more than 100 employees.

The data showed mining was Australia's least gender diverse sector in the 2022 financial year, with just 20% women.

Across Australia, 22% of CEOs are women, while that figure falls to 12.2% in mining.

According to the WGEA, 76.9% of mining companies have a formal policy or strategy to promote gender equality, only just below the national average of 77.7%.

Importantly, 99.1% had formal policies or strategies to combat sexual harassment and discrimination, above the national average of 98.3%.

The percentage of miners with a formal policy to support workers experiencing domestic violence rose to 70.3% from 48.3% in FY18.

Overall, the data showed progress to close the gender pay gap has stalled for the first time, remaining at 22.8%, meaning women earned, on average, A$26,596 less than men.

While high-earning industries tend to have the largest gender pay gaps, mining was an exception due to its male dominance.

The gender pay gap in mining rose to 6.4% from 6% a year earlier.

Miners are lagging on paid parental leave with just 26% of offering it compared to 47.5% overall.

The percentage of mining companies offering paid primary carer's leave was 77%, up 24% since FY14.

WGEA director Mary Wooldridge said employers needed to pick up the pace by implementing policies and practices that would contribute to improved gender equality.

"Lasting change requires employers to make bold, creative choices that send a signal to all employees that gender equality is a core part of their business strategy and a priority for those in leadership and managerial roles," she said.

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