Women’s unpaid labor in Australia is worth $427B

The unpaid labor of Australian women is worth a staggering $427 billion annually. Fifty-five percent of women’s labor is in the form of unpaid work, compared to just 31% of men, while average hourly wage rates are about 10 cents lower in female-concentrated occupations. The research notes that gender equity has been “explicitly articulated” as an objective of the country’s legislation, adding that the Fair Work Commission is now required to consider “the need to achieve gender equality in the workplace.” Unpaid work adds up to almost four hours per day on average, or $771 per week.