Australian women exit management roles due to domestic demands

Australian women are exiting high-paid management roles at high rates due to domestic expectations and family responsibilities, according to Christine Castley, chief executive of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency. While women enter these roles at similar rates to men, they are less likely to remain in them because they often shoulder a greater share of at-home labor.

Because many management positions require full-time commitment, women frequently transition to part-time roles to balance priorities, which can lead to them leaving management altogether. Castley noted that companies, particularly in male-dominated industries, continue to struggle with retaining female talent in top-tier positions.

To improve retention, experts suggest promoting flexible working hours and paid parental leave for all genders. For example, the engineering and construction firm Laing O’Rourke introduced six months of fully paid parental leave for all parents in 2022. In its construction arm, women comprised 14 per cent of the best-paid employees during the 2024-25 financial year, exceeding the industry average of less than 10 per cent.