Workplace Gender Equality Agency Data Launch 2020

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Workplace Gender Equality Agency Data Launch 2020

Wednesday, 09 December 2020

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On Thursday, 26 November 2020, the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Strategic Partnerships) and Human Resources Services Centre marked the release of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) 2019-2020 reporting dataset with an on-campus screening of the data launch, followed by internal discussions on the key insights revealed in the webinar and gender equity activities at ECU.

Each year WGEA embarks on a national tour to launch its data set, created using data from non-public sector organisations that report to WGEA annually under the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012. This event was the seventh year of data reporting and was significant given the historic change in the landscape as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic. As such, the event this year was accessible to all, hosted by WGEA as a digital event, for the first time.

The WGEA Data Launch featured keynote presentations from Libby Lyons, Director of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency and the inaugural Chair of the Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) Limited Board, followed by a panel discussion with leading employers, gender equality experts on the latest insights and trends on the status of gender equality in Australian workplaces. The event concluded with an audience Q&A moderated by Antoinette Lattouf.

Speakers and panellists were:

Libby Lyons, Director, Workplace Gender Equality Agency
Kerry van Donderen, ANZ Chief Operating Officer, AECOM
Rob Sturrock, Gender Equality Advocate, Commentator & Author
Con Balaskas, Vice President and Managing Director - ANZ, Motorola Solutions
Antoinette Lattouf - Senior Journalist, Channel 10 and Director, Media Diversity Australia (MC)

Key findings of the WGEA reporting data from the period 1 April 2019 – 31 March 2020, meaning it will serve as a benchmark for comparison to next year’s dataset, to capture the extent of the COVID-19 impact. There was a substantial 6.1 percentage points decline in the number of employers taking action on pay equity, showing a degree of complacency in this area.

Other key findings were:

The National GPG for total remuneration dropped only 0.7 percentage points to 20.1;
Men still out-earn women by $25,534 a year on average; and
Women continue to dominate the more insecure part-time and casual roles.

To learn more, download the 2019 – 2020 Gender Equality Scorecard.

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