Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) disclosed a concerning trend in its latest report, New Perspectives on Old Problems: Gendered Jobs, Work and Pay. The study, marking the first in the Gender Economic Equality Series, sheds light on the entrenched gender segregation in Australia's labor market, highlighting its detrimental effects on productivity and exacerbating income inequality, particularly among First Nations and migrant women.

According to the report, a mere 20% of Australian workers are employed in gender-balanced occupations, with nearly 70% of roles remaining highly gendered over the past 15 years. This significant imbalance is not only a matter of fairness but is also contributing to labor shortages and economic inefficiency across various sectors.

The introduction of the Gender Segregation Intensity Scale (GSIS) by the JSA is a pivotal move to quantify occupational gender imbalances. Findings indicate a direct correlation between increased segregation and wider gender pay gaps. Over a decade, women earned a staggering 30.7% less than their male counterparts, with First Nations women facing an even more pronounced gap of 38.1%.

The analysis covered 688 occupations, revealing that men out-earned women in 98% of these roles. Notably, over 100 jobs exhibited a pay gap exceeding 25%, with nearly 30 of these surpassing 35%. The most significant disparities are seen in male-dominated fields such as trades, finance, and healthcare leadership.

Intersectional inequities are also highlighted in the report, showing that First Nations and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) women encounter multiple layers of disadvantage due to systemic bias, racialized expectations, and barriers related to life stages. While CALD women help enhance gender balance in high-skilled fields like medicine and IT, they remain underrepresented in leadership and decision-making roles.

This release coincides with heightened scrutiny on broader gender and justice issues in Australia. Among these is the controversial pause on pediatric gender hormone therapy in Queensland, pending a state-led review, which has sparked significant debate regarding the wellbeing of trans and gender-diverse youth. Meanwhile, a separate report by the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) in March underscores the failures of the justice system in addressing sexual violence, especially affecting First Nations women, migrant women, and women with disabilities.

JSA’s findings are a clarion call for urgent and deliberate interventions. Without significant changes, workplace segregation and wage inequality will persist as a formidable "handbrake" on Australia's economic and social advancement. As the country grapples with these entrenched issues, the pace of progress remains slow, urging a collective reevaluation of policies and practices to foster a more equitable and thriving economic landscape.