FEAR & GREED | Business News Q+A: The gender pay gap is narrowing, but it's still too wide
Mar 2, 2026
Mary Wooldridge, CEO of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, leads Australia’s work on employer reporting and pay-gap transparency. She discusses new data showing progress but persistent gaps. Topics include reforms driving momentum, occupational segregation, parental leave and cultural change, discretionary pay practices, and public sector performance.
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Measured Progress Toward Narrower Pay Gaps
- Australia is making measurable progress on gender pay with more employers moving toward a near-zero total remuneration gap.
- WGEA published pay gaps for 10,500 employers and found half now have gaps below 11.2%, showing momentum after prior stalling.
Transparency And Reporting Drive Employer Action
- Recent reforms and transparency measures re-engaged employers on gender equality and pay fairness.
- Publishing employer gender pay gaps, mandatory WGEA reporting to boards, and upcoming target-setting requirements are driving accountability.
Industry Segregation Fuels The Pay Gap
- Australia's industrial structure is highly gender segregated, which fuels the aggregate pay gap.
- Male-dominated industries like construction and mining pay more while female-dominated sectors like healthcare pay less, so sector mix sustains gaps.