Calling out the challenges...
A snapshot of what we heard
Leadership
Well-meaning managers are not always consistent or equipped to make gender equality part of their daily work.
Flexible work
This is still not the norm in many agencies across the APS.
Harassment and bullying
Our workplaces are not safe for all.
Parental Leave
Men and supporting partners are missing out on accessing parental leave.
Gender Stereotypes
These unhelpfully reinforce norms about work, job roles and caring responsibilities.
Aren't we done with gender equality?
Not everyone sees the benefit of continued focus on gender equality.
Gender pay gap
We need to continue to drive gender pay parity in the APS.
Data Snapshot
As at 30 June 2021:
60.2% of the APS workforce and
50% of the total SES cohort are women.2
As at 30 June 2020:
38% of the APS workforce was based in the ACT.
SES roles were predominantly ACT based accounting for 71.5% of SES positions.3
As at 2021, only 22 APS agencies are accredited Breastfeeding Friendly Workplaces. Only 5 are best practice.5
While there is no APS COVID-19 related childcare data available: 40% of APS Employee Census respondents in 2021 reported having caring responsibilities (including care of children).4
43% of these were women and 34% men.
Of the 14.7% of APS employees who work on a part-time basis, 86.2% are women while only 13.8% are men.
APS data trends indicate that less than 5% of new hires to the APS are engaged on a part- time basis. This is far lower than the proportion of the APS who currently work part-time 14.7%.
As at 31 December 2020:
The gender pay gap for the APS was 6.6%.
Women in the APS earned 93.4% of the average base salary earned by men.8
APS occupations where women make up the majority include:
Health: 77.9%
Administration: 75.9%
Service Delivery: 72.8%
Job types where men make up the majority include:
Engineering & Technical: 82.9%
Trades & Labour: 75.3%
Information & Communications Technology: 67.4%9
11.5% of APS staff felt they had experienced discrimination in the last 12 months at work, reported by 11.8% of females and 9.4% of males.
This discrimination was most commonly perceived on the basis of gender followed by age and caring responsibilities.
Harassment or bullying was perceived by 11.7% of employees (12.4% of females compared to 9.4% of males).
Sexual harassment was perceived by 3.9% of these employees (4.3% of females compared to 2.7% of males).10
According to the 2019 OECD Government at a Glance
Australia performs above the OECD average in terms of gender equality in public sector employment.11
** The APS recognises all gender identities. Latest data indicates that 149 people across the APS identified as Gender X (indeterminate/intersex/unspecified) in HR systems.
2APSED release 30 June 2021
3APSED release 30 June 2021
4APS Employee Census 2021
5Australian Breast Feeding Association
6APS Employee Census 2021
7APSED release 30 June 2021
8APS Remuneration Report 2021, SOSR 2020
9APS Employee Census 2021
10APS Employee Census 2021
11OECD Government at a Glance
12NSW Public Service Commission—https://www.psc.nsw.gov.au/culture-and-inclusion/flexible-working/flexi…;