Pay gap widening for women

THE gender pay gap is growing as women fail to bag the pay rises of male colleagues, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures.

The average man working full- time earns $ 1678 a week, with women pulling in $ 1307. The gap is greater when parttime workers are considered, $ 1371 and $ 886 respectively.

But the news is only worsening for women workers, who received an average pay rise of $ 23 in the year to last November, compared with the $ 59 boost enjoyed by men.

The figure shows a trend developing with pay boosts for both sexes much closer in previous years and widening out from May 2013.

The figures show a gender gap in all fields, with gaps of $ 600 in the healthcare industry and among those classed as professionals, where men pull in $ 1851 and $ 2040 after over- time every week. Even in the retail, accommodation and food sectors, there is still discrepancies of more than $ 100.

But the largest void – $ 643 – is in mining where a man earns $ 2657 to a woman’s $ 2014.

The figures came as Rio Tinto boss Sam Walsh said he wanted more women for senior ranks, but said female employees needed to be more confident about climbing the corporate ladder.