Women's participation

Women’s participation in the workforce and community is vital for a fairer, more prosperous South Australia.

Barriers remain in male-dominated industries, where women are under-represented and earn less on average.The Office for Women is working with government and industry to address these gaps and support change.

Menopause is also a workplace issue, with significant impacts on women’s careers and business productivity. Raising awareness and creating supportive policies is key.

In STEM fields, increasing women’s representation boosts innovation and diversity. Through forums, research and advocacy, we’re helping to create inclusive, equal opportunities for women across all sectors.

Male-Dominated Industries

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that women in South Australia are paid 10% less on average than men, retire with less superannuation, spend more time in unpaid work and are less likely to be in leadership positions.

Many factors influence the current gender imbalance, with one in particular being the under-representation of women in the highest-paying industries which are traditionally male-dominated. Women’s participation rates in the 2023–24 financial year are:

Construction 12.8%
Mining 19.4%
Transport, postal and warehousing 23.3%
Manufacturing 29.1%
Electricity, gas, water and waste services 29.8%

The Office for Women held a forum in 2024 with key government agencies and industry leaders — from construction, manufacturing, mining, defence, space, cybersecurity, and renewables energies — to discuss the main barriers and opportunities to increase women’s participation in traditionally male-dominated industries.

Driving Women’s Participation in South Australian Industries Report (PDF 503.1 KB)

Driving Women’s Participation in South Australian Industries Report (DOCX 653.5 KB)

Sources:

^[1]Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Average Weekly Earnings, Australia, November 2024 (Table 13d. Average weekly earnings, South Australia (dollars) - original)

^[2] Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA), Data Explorer - Industry, Private Sector Reporting 2023–24

Menopause Awareness in the Workplace

Menopause costs Australian organisations $10 billion in replacement costs alone with 1 in 8 women retiring during menopause, and another 2 in 8 women wanting to^[1].

A recent forum led by Office for Women in South Australia addressed the multilayered impact of menopause at the workplace. A wide representation of government and business leaders, employee associations, HR, health and safety professionals explored the implications of menopause in the workplace from an economic, psychosocial, health and wellbeing perspective.

Menopause Awareness in the Workplace Factsheet 2025 (PDF 126.2 KB)

Menopause Awareness in the Workplace Factsheet 2025 (DOCX 236.0 KB)

Source:

Macquarie Business School, Managers need menopause training to protect profits and retain women in senior jobs, (The Lighthouse).

Women in STEM

Careers in Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) offer the opportunity to engage in some of the most exciting realms of discovery and technological innovation.

By attracting and retaining more women in the STEM workforce we will maximise innovation, creativity, and competitiveness.

Women in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM)

Science in Australia Gender Equality (SAGE)

Women in STEM: A Guide to Bridging the Gender Gap (2019)

Girls in ICT Day - April each year

UN International Day of Women and Girls in Science - February each year

Page last updated : 16 Apr 2025

Office for Women acknowledges and respects Aboriginal peoples as the State’s first peoples and nations and recognises Aboriginal peoples as traditional owners and occupants of the lands and waters in South Australia.

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