Gender pay gap persists; 14 per cent in latest stats out today

“The gender pay gap is stubbornly persisting at around 15 per cent, despite rising incomes, showing there is still discrimination against women in today’s labour market,” CTU vice president Helen Kelly said today.

The NZ Income Survey for the June 2007 quarter released today shows that average hourly earnings for female full-time wage and salary workers increased from $18.96 to $20.39, and for men it increased from $21.72 to $23.72, representing a 14 per cent gap.

The gap between men's and women's average full-time hourly was 13 per cent in last year's survey, and 16 per cent in 2005.

“Overall incomes are rising, and this is good news.  The only way we are going to close the 30 per cent wage gap with Australia is through regular increases in workers’ wages.”

“But the gender pay gap still persists, largely because of problems such as occupational segregation, undervaluing of work primarily done by women, and because more men are in the highest paid jobs.”

“Unions do make a difference and research has demonstrated how the gender pay gap can be reduced through collective bargaining.  The nurses and midwives collective agreement was a good example of unions addressing pay and employment equity through collective bargaining and campaigning.”

“Joining their union and campaigning with other workers is the best thing women can do to close the pay gap and lift wages, especially for low income workers in industries such as aged care, cleaning and retail,” Helen Kelly said.