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Female mining professionals face a persistent gender pay gap. The gap consists of lower wages than their male peers doing the same work, and less access to career progression. This means the mining industry is denying itself access to the best talent.
Research released by the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) reveals:
Released in the same week as new Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) data, AusIMM’s survey analyses gender equity for mining professionals. It reinforces the message that women are under-represented in senior mining industry roles. The WGEA’s report highlights the stark reality that only 2.7 per cent of mining CEOs are women.
AusIMM CEO Michael Catchpole says AusIMM’s research builds on the overwhelming evidence of a persistent and worrying gender pay gap in the minerals sector.
‘These results demonstrate persistent and unacceptable differences in the career opportunities and salaries between male and female mining professionals.
‘Mining companies who are recruiting and retaining the best talent reap the long-term rewards of being an employer of choice.
‘They have access to the best talent in the mining industry – a key to success during the current challenging times for the industry,’ Mr Catchpole said.
Lynn Olssen, Chair of the AusIMM Women In Mining Network, says the survey results are very disappointing.
‘It is unacceptable that the gender pay gap remains so wide. There are increasing female participation rates and positive signs of a shift to wages parity for graduate and early-career professionals. However, this has not flowed through to senior roles, with a major pay gap and low female representation at senior levels.
‘The single most important action employers can take to address the gender pay gap is to conduct a pay equity audit. Organisations need to understand the extent of the wage disparity among their employees. Companies can only take effective action to redress the imbalances when they are well-informed,’ Ms Olssen said.
Read more about the AusIMM Professional Employment Survey results here.
