Independent Australian research
Plain-language guides and research on pay, superannuation, parental leave, child care, unpaid care and housing. Every figure links to the official source it comes from.
Australia’s national gender pay gap
11.3%
Women working full time earned $246.50 a week less than men in May 2026, the smallest gap since the ABS series began in 1994.
Source: ABS, Average Weekly Earnings, Australia, May 2026.
See every official measureFeatured
Pay & Superannuation
Australia's gender pay gap is 11.3% (ABS, May 2026). Every official measure explained, with figures by state, industry and sector, each linked to its source.
Research desk · Updated 30 September 2026 · 7 min read
Read the statistics| Year | May | November |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | n/a | 16.2% |
| 1995 | 16.4% | 17.5% |
| 1996 | 17.1% | 15.9% |
| 1997 | 16.3% | 16.4% |
| 1998 | 16.4% | 16.1% |
| 1999 | 16.1% | 15.6% |
| 2000 | 16.2% | 15.3% |
| 2001 | 15.5% | 15.3% |
| 2002 | 15.4% | 15.4% |
| 2003 | 15.9% | 15.6% |
| 2004 | 15.2% | 15.1% |
| 2005 | 15.0% | 15.0% |
| 2006 | 15.2% | 16.3% |
| 2007 | 16.1% | 15.5% |
| 2008 | 15.8% | 16.4% |
| 2009 | 16.9% | 17.5% |
| 2010 | 17.2% | 16.9% |
| 2011 | 17.7% | 17.3% |
| 2012 | 17.6% | 17.5% |
| 2013 | 17.5% | 17.1% |
| 2014 | 18.3% | 18.6% |
| 2015 | 17.9% | 17.2% |
| 2016 | 16.2% | 16.0% |
| 2017 | 15.3% | 15.3% |
| 2018 | 14.5% | 14.1% |
| 2019 | 14.0% | 13.9% |
| 2020 | 14.0% | 13.4% |
| 2021 | 14.2% | 13.8% |
| 2022 | 14.1% | 13.3% |
| 2023 | 13.0% | 12.0% |
| 2024 | 11.5% | 11.9% |
| 2025 | 11.5% | 11.5% |
| 2026 | 11.3% | n/a |
Data
The latest official figures behind our research, each linked to its source and to the page that explains it.
National gender pay gap
11.3%
Gap in average weekly base pay for full-time adults.
Gap in total pay at larger employers
21.1%
Includes super, overtime and bonuses, at private employers with 100 or more staff.
Super gap
19.8%
How much lower women's median super balance is than men's.
Women working part-time
43.0%
Of employed women, against 20.5% of employed men.
Extra unpaid work
1h 1m
More unpaid work a day for women than men, among people who did any.
Topics
Each topic brings together our guides and research on that subject.
National figures on women's work, pay, leadership, safety and housing, and how they have changed.
1 pageWorkplace rights, discrimination, flexible work, safety and the conditions shaping working life.
2 pagesThe gender pay gap, pay transparency and the retirement savings divide between women and men.
4 pagesPaid parental leave, child care, unpaid care work and how caring responsibilities are shared.
3 pagesWomen's homelessness, help with rent and home buying, and the housing risks older women face.
2 pagesGuides
Plain-language explanations of entitlements and systems, for people who need an answer.
Work & Employment
What the Fair Work Act and Sex Discrimination Act protect: discrimination, flexible work, pregnancy, family violence leave, pay information and sexual harassment, with the time limits for acting.
8 min read · Updated 15 October 2026
Work & Employment
How direct and indirect sex discrimination, sexual harassment and hostile workplaces are defined, and the four ways to complain, with the time limits and fees for each.
7 min read · Updated 15 October 2026
Housing & Homelessness
Women are 60% of homelessness service clients in Australia. The latest data, 2026 Rent Assistance rates and the 2% home deposit for single parents.
7 min read · Updated 3 October 2026
Parenting & Care
How Parental Leave Pay and unpaid parental leave work in 2026: how much you get, how long it lasts, who qualifies and your rights at work.
7 min read · Updated 2 October 2026
Parenting & Care
How the Child Care Subsidy works in 2026–27: income-based rates, hourly caps, the 3 Day Guarantee and a worked example of what families pay.
6 min read · Updated 2 October 2026
Pay & Superannuation
What the gender pay gap measures, how it is calculated, how it differs from equal pay, and your rights to pay information in Australia.
6 min read · Updated 1 October 2026
Pay & Superannuation
Women's median super balance is 19.8% lower than men's (ATO, 2023–24). How the gap builds by age, recent changes to super and the government schemes that can help.
5 min read · Updated 1 October 2026
Analysis
Gender Equality
Australia's gender pay gap is 11.3%, women hold 22% of CEO roles and 49.6% of seats in parliament. Key statistics on work, pay, care, safety and housing.
Research desk · Updated 3 October 2026 · 8 min read
Housing & Homelessness
Women aged 55 and over seeking homelessness help rose from 7,464 in 2011–12 to 16,996 in 2024–25. The Census and AIHW data, the causes and where to get help.
Research desk · Updated 3 October 2026 · 6 min read
Parenting & Care
Who does Australia's unpaid housework, child care and family care, from the latest ABS surveys, and what it costs women in paid work.
Research desk · Updated 2 October 2026 · 6 min read
Pay & Superannuation
The evidence on what drives Australia's gender pay gap: time out of work for care, part-time work, industries divided by gender, seniority and discrimination.
Research desk · Updated 1 October 2026 · 7 min read
Pay & Superannuation
Australia's gender pay gap is 11.3% (ABS, May 2026). Every official measure explained, with figures by state, industry and sector, each linked to its source.
Research desk · Updated 30 September 2026 · 7 min read