Frequently asked questions about pay equity

Isn't it illegal to pay men and women differently when they're doing the same job?

Yes, that's right. There are laws that prohibit employers from discriminating against workers on the basis of gender (Equal Opportunity Act 1984). The issue of pay equity, however, is much broader than just comparing like-to-like jobs. Pay equity also includes a consideration of access to, and the nature of, part time and casual employment, the ability of people to balance caring and work responsibilities and the under valuation of female dominated jobs and industries.

Why is the gender pay gap so much worse in Western Australia than the rest of the nation?

There is no absolute answer to this question. There are a variety of factors that may have contributed to such a big difference in the earnings of men and women. What is known is that it is not due to the resources boom in this state as the mining sector employs less than 5 per cent of the total WA workforce.

Obviously women earn less than men because they choose to work part time, and/or don't apply for higher paid jobs. Why is this a problem?

When discussing whether people choose to work part time or to apply for promotion, consideration needs to be given to a number of factors that facilitate equal participation in the labour market.

Key considerations include the lack of accessible family friendly workplace provisions and the impediment this creates to paid employment, particularly for those workers with caring responsibilities; the over representation of women in part time and casual employment and the nature of these forms of work; the lack of access to training and promotion opportunities for part time employees; and the undervaluing of female dominated industries and occupations.

How is the gender pay gap calculated?

The gender pay gap is calculated on average weekly ordinary time earnings figures (AWOTE) published by the ABS on a quarterly basis. AWOTE does not factor in part time or casual earnings, nor does it consider income earned from overtime payments. See the About the Statistics page for more information on how the gender pay gap is calculated.

Will pursuing pay equity mean a pay reduction for anyone?

The solutions to the gender pay gap do not lie in reducing anyone's pay. Pursuing pay equity is about identifying barriers to equal participation and remuneration and removing them so that the workplace is fair and equitable.