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What Gender Pay Gap? Big little lies?

Author/s

Dr Leonora Risse

Abstract

Australia’s gender pay gap currently sits at 14%.
Australian full-time working women take home an average of $1485 per week in pay, while full-time working men take home an average weekly pay packet of $1726.
This gap of $241 is calculated using the latest workforce earnings survey information collected by Australia’s official data agency, the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Now, there may be many people reading this who believe that the gender pay gap is a load of nonsense. Or who are a bit confused by what it all means.
At a first glance, the concept of the ‘gender pay gap’ might not make sense. Especially because we know it’s against the law to pay workers different rates for doing the same job. It’s understandable to have some doubts and criticisms.
As an economist who studies the labour market, I want to address some of the commonly expressed concerns.

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