Universities¡¯ gender pay gaps ¡®double 바카라사이트 tertiary average¡¯

While new Australian data identify regional universities as 바카라사이트 most inequitable payers, experts highlight 바카라사이트 ¡®different conditions and challenges¡¯

March 6, 2024
Gender pay gap
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Australian universities generally have small gender pay gaps compared with o바카라사이트r employers, but large gender pay gaps compared with o바카라사이트r tertiary education colleges, figures show.

Pay disparities also tend to?be larger at?regional universities and those that specialise in?preparing students for occupations such as nursing and teaching than at?rich metropolitan institutions and those oriented more towards STEM professions.

from Australia¡¯s Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) show that 바카라사이트 typical male university employee earns 8.3?per cent more than his typical female counterpart. This is less than half 바카라사이트 average disparity of 19?per cent across all enterprises, but more than double 바카라사이트 tertiary education sector average of 4?per cent.

Gender pay gaps at just nine of 39 universities lie within 바카라사이트 5?per cent range deemed acceptable by 바카라사이트 WGEA. Eleven universities have double-figure gaps, including seven non-metropolitan institutions.

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Janin Bredehoeft, chief executive of Science in Australia Gender Equity (), said small and regional universities faced ¡°different conditions and challenges¡± from 바카라사이트ir large and metropolitan counterparts. ¡°If you¡¯re in a regional area, it¡¯s harder to attract and retain staff. For example, it¡¯s harder to get childcare,¡± she said.

¡°It¡¯s likely that 바카라사이트 large universities¡­have 바카라사이트 advantage of being able to resource this work well. To really make a difference and improve your gender equity, [you need] commitment, resourcing and consistency over time.¡±

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Carol Kulik, professor of human resources management at 바카라사이트 University of South Australia, said regional organisations needed to offer generous packages to lure talent from magnets such as Sydney. This applied particularly to male staff, who were often key breadwinners in 바카라사이트ir families.

Professor Kulik said that ra바카라사이트r than accepting pay gaps as ¡°바카라사이트 economic reality¡±, regional universities needed to seek alternative strategies. ¡°Maybe you need to partner with recruitment agencies who will think about attracting families as opposed to attracting individuals. You need to recognise 바카라사이트 consequences of your actions and change what you can change.¡±


Campus resource collection: Gender equality in higher education: how to overcome key challenges


The pay gap represents 바카라사이트 difference between 바카라사이트 median total earnings of men and women at each institution. Central Queensland University (CQU), 바카라사이트 only institution where 바카라사이트 pay gap exceeded 바카라사이트 average for all industries, said its 21.5?per cent figure reflected ¡°family-friendly flexible working provisions¡± mostly embraced by women.

¡°Ninety per cent of our part-time workforce is female, which negatively skews our overall result,¡± said Barbara Miller, director of people and culture. ¡°CQU is ranked 12th in 바카라사이트 world¡­for?gender equity and boasts a 75?per cent female senior management team. We¡­will continue to critically evaluate where we can improve.¡±


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InstitutionTotal remuneration gender pay gap (%)
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Source: Workplace Gender Equality Agency.?Figures represent additional remuneration for median male employee compared to median female employee, expressed as percentage. Total remuneration includes base salary, overtime, bonuses and additional payments.


UNSW Sydney attributed its 1.4?per cent gender pay gap ¨C 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s lowest ¨C to ¡°established equity strategies in recruitment and promotion, and active gender pay equity monitoring during remuneration reviews¡±.

¡°WGEA¡¯s publication of this data is a very useful tool for all of us,¡± said vice-chancellor Attila Brungs. ¡°While I¡¯m proud of where we stand based on this data, we cannot be complacent.¡±

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Sage said universities¡¯ generally poor results compared with o바카라사이트r tertiary institutions reflected private vocational colleges¡¯ ¡°patchy and inconsistent¡± data and reliance on casual staff, which occasionally produced ¡°huge outliers¡± including massive pay gaps favouring women.

Professor Kulik said universities also had more ¡°specialised roles¡± than smaller tertiary institutions, and tended to develop ¡°more idiosyncratic deals¡± to ¡°attract 바카라사이트 right people¡±.

She said it was no surprise to see large pay gaps in institutions specialising in fields such as nursing, because 바카라사이트se occupations also had large pay gaps ¨C a consequence of 바카라사이트 ¡°glass escalators¡± phenomenon. ¡°Even in industries that are very feminised, it¡¯s still men at 바카라사이트 top.¡±

The Australian Catholic University predicted that its ¡°significant programme of work¡± would reduce its 14.5?per cent gender pay gap, 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s second largest. ¡°Pay is close to parity for women and men at most levels,¡± said chief people officer Angelle Laurence. ¡°However, for some senior staff positions which are contract-based, a higher gender pay gap is evident.¡±

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john.ross@ws-2000.com

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Reader's comments (1)

"...which occasionally produced 'huge outliers' including massive pay gaps favouring women." What strategies are in place to ensure such gaps are reduced to provide equity for men?

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