Survey shows gender pay gap at new low
By: Claudia Innes
The Minister of Women’s Affairs, Hekia Parata, is delighted with the results of a survey released this month, which show the gender pay gap has reached an all time low.
The New Zealand Income Survey shows that the gender pay gap has decreased from 10.6 per cent to 9.6 per cent in the last financial year.
“I am delighted that the pay gap is tracking in the right direction,’’ Ms Parata says.
Parata says that over the past three yeas the Government has worked hard to create a stable economy that promotes growth, conditions that she believes have helped to decrease the gender pay gap.
“We have worked with the accounting sector to better understand how flexible work practices are good for business; we have set up trade networks in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch to help women get into male-dominated trades”, says Ms Parata.
“We are starting to see change. The NZX is proposing new rules that will require all publicly listed companies to declare how many women they have in senior roles, and the New Zealand Institute of Directors has established a new mentoring scheme which aims to help women develop connections and skills that will allow them to achieve board positions.’’
Although the gap is slowly decreasing, Parata says that there is still further work that needs to be done in order for women to reach their full potential.
“We are making progress but there is always more that can be done. Our Government is committed to growth and we recognise the contribution that women can make to that.”
Ms Parata says to achieve our full potential we need to further utilise women’s skills.
“Women today are better educated than their grandmothers and mothers. They are also graduating from university with more degrees than men. Despite this, they are still likely to be paid less and to progress more slowly in the workforce than men with similar skills.”
Although efforts to improve the gender pay gap will continue, Ms Parata points out that compared to other nations New Zealand is doing well.