The most commonly cited gender pay gap measure,the gap in average weekly ordinary time earnings,fell to its lowest level on record,down to 13.3 per cent – 0.6 percentage points below its pre-pandemic level of 13.9 per cent in November 2019,according to the ABS data.
In more recent times,thanks to strong gains in employment,the female unemployment rate declined to 3.3 per cent in April,its lowest level since at least 1978. On the other hand,the overall unemployment rate rose to 3.7 per cent in April,up from its near-five-decade low of 3.5 per cent in March,and the male unemployment rate rose to 4 per cent from 3.3 per cent.
The slight slowdown in the labour market has been led by a drop in the number of males employed. About 42,000 fewer men had jobs in April 2023 compared to October last year.
In contrast,the number of employed women has jumped,with many transitioning from part-time to full-time jobs. Around 110,000 more women held full-time jobs in April 2023 than in October last year,according to ABS data. Female full-time employment stood at 3,826,900 in April,a record number.
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In more good news,the number of women who are long-term unemployed declined by 4,800 or 11 per cent over the three months to March 2023,to stand at 38,600 – the lowest level recorded since May 2009.
Several factors are contributing to these gains,primarily the emergence of more flexible working arrangements. Most workers report that their workplace now provides access to carers’ leave and permanent part-time employment,while more than half of workers report that their workplace provides paid maternity leave.