The third and final report in Jobs and Skills Australia’s (JSA) Gender Economic Equality Study, Speeding up progress towards gender economic equality, delivers a compelling call to action for industry and government leaders. It outlines a practical, evidence-based roadmap to dismantle structural barriers that continue to limit women’s full participation in the workforce – barriers that are costing Australia both economically and socially.
Building on the insights of two earlier reports, this final paper presents 10 strategic recommendations to accelerate gender equality in the workforce. It highlights the urgent need for coordinated, systemic reform, particularly in addressing occupational segregation, gendered education pathways, and intersectional disadvantage.
Five Reform Priorities for Structural Change
1. Occupational Segregation: With only 21% of occupations considered gender balanced, the report calls for a national “Shifting the Dial” agenda to evaluate and scale interventions that challenge entrenched gender roles in the labour market.
2. Early Intervention: Gendered career expectations form early. Embedding career education from Year 3 and investing in gender-aware teaching practices are essential to broadening aspirations and diversifying future talent pipelines.
3. Intersectional Discrimination: The report urges policy-makers and employers to address the compounded disadvantage experienced by First Nations women, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and people with a disability.
4. Training Pathways: Gendered barriers in vocational education and training (VET) persist. The report recommends equity-by-design approaches, targeted scholarships, and inclusive learning environments to ensure all Australians can access high-quality training.
5. Data and Evidence: The adoption of the Gender Segregation Intensity Scale (GSIS) and expanded intersectional data collection are critical to tracking progress and informing policy and investment decisions.
10 Strategic Actions for Leaders
1. Launch a National “Shifting the Dial” Agenda to test and scale interventions that reduce occupational segregation.
2. Embed Career Learning from Year 3, supported by national campaigns and teacher training to challenge gender norms.
3. Set Gender Equity Targets in the National Skills Agreement and public procurement frameworks.
4. Reform VET Pathways with targeted scholarships, inclusive design, and gender-aware marketing.
5. Co-design a First Nations Women’s Economic Plan to address unique barriers and opportunities.
6. Inclusive Workplaces through strengthened safety, cultural inclusion, and voluntary gender equality targets.
7. Normalise Men’s Caregiving Roles by expanding paid parental leave and promoting shared care.
8. Adopt the GSIS across government and industry to monitor and address gender segregation.
9. Audit and Reform Skills Frameworks to remove gendered language and structural bias.
10. Invest in Intersectional Research and Data to inform policy and measure impact.
To access all three papers in the series, please follow the following links:
