IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON WOMEN’S EMPLOYMENT AND THE GENDER PAY GAP

Many Australians have been hit hard by COVID19, especially many women. 

Notwithstanding these challenges, Australian Bureau of Statistics Labour Force data, released yesterday, show positive movement and that women’s employment is recovering in many parts of the country. This will of course be affected by events in Victoria and the consequent lockdown there. 

The Australian Bureau of Statistics Average Weekly Earnings data, which were also released yesterday, show that in May 2020, the gender pay gap widened slightly by 0.1 percentage points to 14.0 per cent.

We know that women have been significantly impacted by COVID-19. Industries in which women make up the majority of workers have been amongst the hardest hit.

We are focused on ensuring that the gains made for women in recent years are not reversed by the economic effects of the pandemic, which is why women’s economic security is a key focus of the Morrison Government’s plan for our recovery. The Government is focused on supporting women’s workforce participation now and into the future. 

Prior to the pandemic, more than 1.5 million jobs were created under the government’s strong economic policies – the majority filled by women – and the gender pay gap was at a record low. We have made historic gains in women’s employment and workforce participation before – and we can do it again, together.