Improving productivity
The National Foundation for Australian Women (NFAW) is a leading advocate for gender equality in Australia, independent of party politics and dedicated to promoting and protecting women’s rights through policy advocacy, research, and education.
The evidence globally and in Australia is clear that advances towards gender equality contribute to nations’ resilience, deliver economic gains and accelerate productivity.i Despite progress on improving gender equality in Australia, women are still more likely to work part time, be underemployed, and experience lower pay and job security compared to men.
NFAW congratulates the Government on its work on Gender Responsive Budgeting and gender impact analysis in its Budget processes. The Working for Women Strategy is an important milestone for gender equality in Australia and a useful framework. There is more to be done to align all government processes to integrate gender equality considerations.
This submission seeks to inform the Economic Reform Roundtable of the productivity benefits from investing in gender equality.
Australia must recognise that supporting gender equality is an investment
Reducing gender wage gaps is not an inefficiency but an overall better utilisation of women’s skills, and so an economy-wide productivity gain.