Released this week by KPMG, Diversity Council Australia (DCA) and the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA), the She’s Price(d)less report is the only analysis of its kind in Australia that evaluates the contributing drivers of the gender pay gap to explain its existence and what needs to be most addressed to close the gap. The report reveals the gap is nearing almost $1 billion per week.

Based on WGEA’s workplace survey, data published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), and the results of the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey, the report explores how the gender pay gap affects 5 key industries: healthcare and social assistance, education and training, retail trade, manufacturing and accommodation and food services. Gender discrimination remains the leading driver of pay inequity, contributing 36% of the pay gap.

The gender pay gap remains prevalent regardless of labour force size, gender composition or average rate of pay. Women in feminised industries face particular barriers to achieving wage parity, with gender pay gaps above the national average.

As Brianna Boecker notes in Women's Agenda, the She’s Price(d)less report shows that taking greater action to address the gender pay gap is both a collective obligation and an investment in Australia’s economic future.