The CEO of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA), Mary Wooldridge, emphasized the need for proactive measures to ensure women receive equitable opportunities in their careers.

In its report, WGEA highlighted a staggering statistic: when the earnings gap is calculated from ages 15 to 67, women earn on average $1.5 million less than their male counterparts.

A proven path to a higher salary is advancing into management positions. However, by the age of 34, men predominantly occupy these roles, according to the report’s findings.

“We urge employers to alter the narrative and pave the way for a fairer future,” Wooldridge stated.

Mary Wooldridge of WGEA also pointed out that bridging the gender pay gap brings advantages to both men and women in the workforce. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch

“We’re asking employers to change the story and shape the future,” she said.

WGEA CEO Mary Wooldridge says that fixing the gender pay gap benefits both men and women in the workplace. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch

Actions like offering equal parental leave to women and men can help lift the burden of unpaid care work that women experience as they age.