Australia gender pay gap hits record low of 11.3 per cent

Australia’s gender pay gap reached a record low of 11.3 per cent in May, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. This represents a decrease from 11.5 per cent recorded in November 2025.

While the gap has narrowed, overall growth in average weekly ordinary time earnings for full-time adults was only 1.6 per cent, the lowest six-monthly growth rate since May 2022. The average weekly earnings for full-time adults stood at $2,083.70 in May 2026.

The reduction in the pay gap was primarily driven by wage increases for women in lower-paid sectors, such as healthcare. Contributors to this trend include reforms aimed at ending the undervaluation of female-dominated occupations, the banning of pay secrecy, and expanded access to collective bargaining.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) noted that workplace reforms, including paid parental leave and domestic violence leave, have supported women in maintaining employment and securing higher pay. ACTU president Michele O’Neil stated that recent wage reviews and new gender equity laws are having a measurable impact on closing the gap.