The rise of the female-fuelled workforce is not just a demographic shift; it’s a powerful movement that’s reshaping the economic landscape…
Increasing Participation & Employment Over Time
Women’s participation in Australia’s paid workforce has seen a remarkable increase over the past 50 years. In 1966, women made up around 30% of the workforce. Fast forward to 2020, and women constituted almost half of the paid workforce. The employment-to-population ratio of women has also seen a significant increase, with the lowest employment age shifting from 30 in 1966 to the same age in 2020, but with a ratio more than twice as high.
Diversity, Education & Employment
The female workforce in Australia is diverse and highly educated. As of 2024, 3.8% of women are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, 28.3% were born overseas, and 48.5% have a parent born overseas. Furthermore, 29.3% are under the age of 25, 18.0% are 65 and over, and 17.8% are women with disability. When it comes to education, 64% of women hold a qualification outside school, and 35.7% hold a bachelor degree or above. This places Australia as the 4th highest in the OECD for tertiary educated women.
Unpaid & Paid Care, Part-Time Work
Women’s contribution extends beyond paid work. They shoulder a significant portion of unpaid work and care, with 83% of one-parent families being single mothers. Women do over 9 hours a week more unpaid work and care than men. Female parents do 1 hour and 15 minutes more unpaid childcare a day than male parents. When it comes to paid work, 43.3% of women work part-time, compared to 19.5% of men, with 35.7% of women citing caring for children as the main reason they are unavailable to start work or work more hours.
Job Creation & Equality in the Workplace
Job creation in the female-dominated health and education service sectors is driving both full-time and part-time employment growth in Australia. However, there is still much to be done to achieve gender equality in the workplace. Businesses need to ensure adequate female representation in growth-oriented roles, provide flexible work arrangements, and address the gender pay gap.
The rise of the female-fuelled workforce in Australia is a testament to the resilience, adaptability, and skills of women. As we move forward, it’s crucial to continue pushing for more equality in the workplace.
