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Baseline report

Data as at March 2024

This report provides sources and reference points for each indicator and measure listed in the reporting framework of Working for Women: A Strategy for Gender Equality. As a baseline, this is a point-in-time data and reference set on the status of gender equality in Australia at the time of the Strategy's release on 7 March 2024.

This report lists the data the Government will monitor to assess the impact of Working for Women and progress towards gender equality over the next 10 years. These data points have been selected in order to track progress against the ambitions of Working for Women and provide insight into the experiences of women and men in Australia. This baseline report will inform the mid-point review of Working for Women to be conducted in 2029.

Data sources used in this report are reported on different cycles from monthly through to every five years. Some data sources are updated on an ad hoc basis. The mid-point review will include the release of a mid-point update to the baseline to track change towards gender equality. Data measures and sources may also be added over time where more appropriate data sets emerge.

Where available, the data includes disaggregated data for First Nations people, culturally and linguistically diverse people, people with disability, people of different ages, and LGBTIQA+ people. There are limitations to this data in some cases, particularly where there are small population or sample sizes. The Government will work to improve data to help inform better outcomes for all Australians.

In addition to this report and the mid-point review, the Government will continue to release Status of Women Report Cards annually, highlighting key statistics across the priority areas of Working for Women.

Where indicators are informed by targets from existing strategies, time frames and target levels have been included in this report. The remaining indicators outline directional goals, but are not targets with specific time frames.

Priority area 3. Economic equality and security: Close the gender pay gap and retirement income gender gap

Outcome 3.4: The retirement income gap closes
Ref. Indicator Measure Baseline (2024)
3.4.1 Women's workforce participation

The percentage of women over 15 years who are participating in the labour force (employed or unemployed)

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3.4.2 Median superannuation account balances

Men’s median superannuation account balances minus women’s median superannuation account balances for all ages

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3.4.3 Women's personal income at retirement

The percentage of women whose main source of personal income at retirement is superannuation

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3.4.3 Women's personal income at retirement

The percentage of women who have no sources of personal income at retirement

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3.4.4 Women's reliance on their partner's income at retirement

The percentage of women who rely on their partner’s income as their main source of funds to meet living costs at retirement, compared to men

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3.4.5 Personal superannuation income

Median regular financial year income from superannuation

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3.4.6 Personal investment income

Median personal income from investment, including:

  • Gross interest (this includes interest paid or credited from any source in Australia including accounts and term deposits held with financial institutions in Australia)
  • Dividends unfranked amount
  • Dividends from franked amount
  • Dividends franking credit
  • Share of net income from trusts less net capital gains and foreign income non-primary production
  • Franked distributions from trusts – non-primary production
  • Australian franking credits from a New Zealand company
  • Net foreign rent
  • Net rent
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3.4.7 Recipients of the age pension

Share of women and men receiving the age pension

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3.4.8 Age at retirement

The average age at retirement from the labour force

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3.4.9 Employers paying superannuation on parental leave

Of employers that offer parental leave, the percentage that pay superannuation on parental leave, by type of parental leave offered (employer-funded, government funded, unpaid leave, or a mixture)

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