Baseline report

Data

In 2017, 20.2 per cent of heterosexual couples aged under 65 with at least one member employed were female-breadwinners (i.e. the female earned more than her male partner). (19.3 per cent in 2001). 

• Female-breadwinner couples were 15.0 per cent of couples with dependent children and 28.3 per cent of couples without dependent children.
• Female-breadwinner couples were 18.5 per cent of couples where both hold a university degree, 11.4 per cent of couples where only the male holds a university degree, 31.7 per cent of couples where only the female holds a university degree, and 18.7 per cent of couples were neither holds a university degree.
• Female-breadwinner couples were 17.7 per cent of couples where both were born in a non-mainly English speaking country, 19.7 per cent of couples where only the male was born in a non-mainly English speaking country, 22.6 per cent of couples where only the female was born in a non-mainly English speaking country and 20.5 per cent of couples where neither was born in a non-mainly English speaking country.
• Female breadwinner couples were 21.8 per cent of couples where the age of the male was under 30 years, 14.9 per cent of couples where the male was between 30-39 years, 18.1 per cent of couples where the male was between 40-49 years and 25.2 per cent of couples where the male was over 50 years.
• Female breadwinner couples were 20.3 per cent of couples where the age of the female was under 30 years, 15.1 per cent of couples where the female was between 30-39 years, 19.6 per cent of couples where the female was between 40-49 years, and 27.1 per cent of couples where the female was over the age of 50.
• Female breadwinner couples were 19.4 per cent of couples in major urban areas, 18.8 per cent of couples in other urban areas, and 25.4 per cent of couples in non-urban regions.

---

Data source

HILDA Statistical Report 2019 | HILDA

Reported on every three to four years

Data

In 2021-22, one in six women (16.9 per cent) and one in 18 men (5.5 per cent) had experienced physical and/or sexual violence by a current or previous cohabiting partner since the age of 15.

In the two years to 2021-22, rates of partner violence were:

• 2.6 per cent of women aged 18-34 years, 2.2 per cent of women aged 35-54 years, and 0.6 per cent of women aged 55 years and over
• 2.2 per cent for women with disability compared to 1.5 per cent for women without
• highest for single mothers with children under the age of 15 years (9.3 per cent), compared to other family and household types
• 3.5 per cent for women who were renting compared to 1.1 per cent for women who owned their home
• 1.9 per cent for women living in major cities (1.9 per cent) compared to 1.4 per cent outside major cities
• 1.8 per cent for women with non-school qualifications compared to 1.4 per cent without non-school qualifications
• 6.2 per cent for women who experienced recent cash flow problems compared to 1.2 per cent for women who hadn’t.

---

Data source

Personal Safety Survey via Family, domestic and sexual violence | Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Released every five years

Data

In 2021-22, one in four women (22.9 per cent) and one in seven men (13.8 per cent) had emotional abuse by a current or previous cohabiting partner since the age of 15.

In the two years to 2021-22, rates of emotional abuse by a partner were:

• 4.7 per cent of women aged 18-34 years, 7.7 per cent of women aged 35-54 years, and 3.8 per cent of women aged 55 years and over
• 7.0 per cent of women with disability compared to 4.6 per cent of women without disability
• highest for single mothers with children under the age of 15 years (18 per cent), compared to other family and household types
• 7.3 per cent for women who were renting compared to 4.8 per cent for women who owned their home
• 5.1 per cent for women living in major cities compared to 5.8 per cent outside major cities
• 6.1 per cent for women with non-school qualifications compared to 3.4 per cent for women without
• 13 per cent for women who experienced recent cash flow problems compared to 4.3 per cent for those who hadn’t.

---

Data source

• Partner violence, 2021-22 financial year | Australian Bureau of Statistics
• Family, domestic and sexual violence | Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Released every five years

Data

In 2021-22, one in six women (16.3 per cent) and one in 13 men (7.8 per cent) had economic abuse by a current or previous cohabiting partner since the age of 15.

In the two years to 2021-22, rates of economic abuse by a partner were:

• 3.1 per cent of women aged 18-34 years, 4.5 per cent of women aged 35-54 years, and 1.8 per cent of women aged 55 years and over
• 4.6 per cent of women with disability compared to 2.4 per cent of women without disability
• highest for single mothers with children under the age of 15 years (17 per cent), compared to other family and household types
• 5.5 per cent for women who were renting compared to 2.3 per cent of women who owned their home
• 2.9 per cent for women living in major cities and 3.3 per cent outside major cities
• 3.5 per cent for women with non-school qualifications compared to 2.0 per cent of women without
• 9.3 per cent for women who experienced recent cash flow problems compared to 2.2 of women who hadn’t.

---

Data source

• Partner violence, 2021-22 financial year | Australian Bureau of Statistics
• Family, domestic and sexual violence | Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Released every five years

Data

In 2020-21, women did more than 9 hours a week more than men.

• 1 hour 19 minutes per day – approximately 9 hours and 13 minutes per week.

Within demographic groups, the difference in unpaid work and care per week between women and men was highest for:

• People aged 25 to 44 years (14 hours) and lowest for people aged 15 to 24 years (3 hours).
• People living in inner regional Australia (12 hours) and lowest for people living in outer regional and remote Australia (5 hours).
• People born overseas (10 hours) compared to people born in Australia (9 hours).
• People not in the labour force (11 hours) and lowest for people employed full-time (3 hours).
• People with whose highest level of educational attainment is the certificate level (including Certificate I/II and Certificate III/IV) (13 hours) and lowest for people with graduate diploma/graduate certificate (1 hour).
• People in the lowest quintile of household income (15 hours) and lowest for people in the highest quintile of household income (4 hours).
• People in the lowest quintile of personal income (14 hours) and lowest for people in the highest quintile of personal income (3 hours).
• People in the second lowest quintile of relative socio-economic disadvantage (11 hours) and lowest for people in the second highest quintile of relative socio-economic disadvantage (8 hours).
• Parents in couple families with child under the age of 15 years (18 hours) and lowest for dependent children aged 15-24 years (1 hour).
• People with poor self-assessed health status (11 hours) and lowest for people with excellent self-assessed health status (7 hours).

---

Data source

How Australians Use Their Time, 2020-21 financial year | Australian Bureau of Statistics

Released every two years

Data

In 2020-21, female parents did around 8 hours and 45 minutes more unpaid child care per week more than male parents.

• 1 hour and 15 minutes more per day.

Within demographic groups, of people who provided child care, the difference in care per week between women and men was highest for:

• People aged 25 to 34 years (13 hours) and lowest for people aged 65 years and over (0 hours).
• People living in inner regional Australia (13 hours) and lowest for people in major cities (7 hours).
• People born in Australia (8 hours) compared to people born overseas (7 hours).
• People who are unemployed (18 hours) compared to people who are employed full-time (3 hours).
• People whose highest level of educational attainment is the certificate level (10 hours) and lowest for people with diploma/advanced diploma (30 minutes).
• People in the lowest quintile of household income (17 hours) and lowest for people in the highest quintile (3 hours).
• People in the lowest quintile of personal income (13 hours) and lowest for people in the highest quintile (3 hours).
• People in the lowest quintile of relative socio-economic disadvantage (9 hours) and lowest for people in the third quintile (6 hours).
• People with good self-assessed health status (12 hours) and lowest for people with very good self-assessed health status (4 hours).

---

Data source

How Australians Use Their Time, 2020-21 financial year | Australian Bureau of Statistics

Released every two years

Data

In February 2024:

• 43.3 per cent of employed women work part-time
• 20.0 per cent of employed men work part-time

Within demographic groups, in 2023, rates of part-time work were highest for:

• Women aged 65 years and over (67.6 per cent working part-time) and lowest for women aged 25-34 years (32 per cent).
  • Men aged 15-24 years (46.7 per cent) and lowest for men aged 35-44 years (9.1 per cent).
• Not married women (44.2 per cent) compared to married women (including women in de facto relationships) (41.7 per cent) and married men (12.9 per cent).
• Women born in Australia (44.6 per cent), compared to women born in mainly English-speaking countries (39.6 per cent) and women born in countries other than mainly English-speaking countries (38.6 per cent).
• Women whose highest level of educational attainment is year 12 or below (54.2 per cent) and lowest for women with a diploma or above (35.1 per cent).
• By their status in their household, women who are dependent students (93.3 per cent) and lowest for women living alone (29.6 per cent).
  • Men who are dependent students (87.4 per cent) and lowest for men in a couple family with children under 15 years (8.1 per cent).

---

Data source

Labour Force, Australia, February 2024 | Australian Bureau of Statistics

Monthly release

Data

In February 2024, women’s participation rate was 62.9 per cent, compared to 70.7 per cent for men. 

In 2023, the participation rate was lowest for:

• Women aged 65 years and over (11.6 per cent) followed by women aged 55 to 64 years (63.5 per cent). It was highest for women aged 24-34 years (82.6 per cent).
• Women who aren’t married (57.8 per cent) compared to married women (66.3 per cent).
• Women born in countries other than the main English-speaking countries (60.5 per cent) compared to women born in the main English-speaking countries (60.8 per cent) and women born in Australia (63.7 per cent).
• Women whose highest level of educational attainment is year 12 or below (47.4 per cent). It was highest for women with a diploma or above (76.8 per cent).
• Single mothers with non-dependent children (42.2 per cent). It was highest for women in couple families with dependent students over the age of 15 years (85 per cent).

---

Data source

Labour Force, Australia | Australian Bureau of Statistics

Released monthly

Data

In 2022-23, 78.8 per cent of adult women and 52.1 per cent of girls participated in sport at least once per week. Participation was highest for:

• Women aged 45-54 years (83.7 per cent) and lowest for women aged 18-24 years (74.3 per cent).
• Girls aged 9-11 years (66.8 per cent).
• Women living in major cities (83.2 per cent) and lowest for women in remote or very remote areas (77.4 per cent)
• Women employed full-time (85.3 per cent) and lowest for unemployed women (70.3 per cent)
• Women with a university degree or higher (87.3 per cent) and lowest for women who did not complete year 12 (71.1 per cent)
• Women in a couple or single with no children (83.3 per cent) and lowest for women with a younger family (80.7 per cent)
• Non-Indigenous women (82.6 per cent) compared to Indigenous women (72.5 per cent)
• Women who mainly speak English at home (83.6 per cent) and lowest for women who speak a non-European language at home (73.8 per cent)
• Women without a disability (84.8 per cent) compared to women with disability (70.0 per cent)
• Women with a household income above $200,000 a year (91.4 per cent) and lowest for women with a household income below $40,000 a year (75.4 per cent)

---

Data source

Australian Sports Commission, AusPlay results July 2022 – June 2023 | Clearinghouse for Sport

Released annually