Gender pay gap in Australia - ONLINE ONLY

Gender pay gap in Australia

Join us for this online event to hear researchers Silvia Griselda and Elyse Dwyer discuss the findings of their recent research into the drivers of the gender pay gap in Australia. The event will be moderated by NSW WEN Chair Evie Fox Koob.

About the Seminar

Australian women earn on average 15% less per hour than men. What are the causes of this pay gap? Is it rooted in different occupational choices between men and women? Or does it reflect differences in pay across genders for identical occupations? We answer these questions using use population-wide taxation data covering the Australian workforce.

We find that approximately one-fifth of the estimated overall hourly gender wage gap is driven by men and women working in occupations with different pay rates. The remainder is driven by differences in pay within the same occupation. Gender differences in personal characteristics such as full-time status, educational attainment, number of dependents, and Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) scores do not account for the gender pay gap within occupations nor do they explain why women sort into lower-paying occupations. Among university-educated individuals of similar ATARs, women are less likely to sort into higher-paying career options (e.g. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics or STEM). Marriage and parenthood have a different effect on women’s hourly earnings than men’s, which drives many of the differences in hourly pay within occupations.

About The Speakers

Silvia Griselda is an economist dedicated to fostering diversity and inclusion within economics. Her educational background and professional experience have made her a key advocate for women's representation and advancement in the field. She earned her PhD in Economics from the University of Melbourne and subsequently contributed to the AXA Gender Lab at Bocconi University as an academic.

Currently, she is the Research Manager at the Education and Human Capital Unit of the e61 Institute, leading impactful projects on the gender pay gap, childcare, labour force participation, and education policies. Her research has been published in renowned academic journals and featured in outlets such as The Conversation, Vox EU, the Australian Financial Review (AFR), and The Australian. Her accolades include the UniCredit Foundation’s Best Paper Award in Gender Economics and the Mardi Dungey Prize for Best Paper at ANU.

Elyse Dwyer is a Research Economist at the e61 Institute, her research areas cover structural reform, labour markets, education and housing. Elyse holds a University Medal and First Class Honours in Economics from the University of Queensland.

Event Details

Date: Wednesday 5 June 2024
Time: 12.00PM - 1.00PM AEST (Time Converter)
Location: Online via Zoom (a Zoom link will be sent to your email upon registration)
Cost: Free of charge

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We look forward to welcoming you to this event, 

ESA NSW Women in Economics Network