The gender pay gap in the national mining sector narrowed to 21.1 per cent in 2024-25, according to data compiled by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA).
The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of WA (CME) welcomes the 1.1 percentage point improvement.
WGEA reported that 91 per cent of mining companies have now adopted a formal strategy or policy on equal remuneration between men and women – well above the overall rate of 74 per cent.
The data also confirmed mining was the best paid industry in Australia, with average total remuneration of $202,000 in FY25 – around 68 per cent higher than the national average of $120,000.
CME Chief Executive Officer Aaron Morey said improving female participation was a priority focus for the resources sector and would help further reduce the gender pay gap over time.
“The WA resources sector simply would not function without the immense and growing contribution of women,” Mr Morey said.
“Closing the gender pay gap will take time but we have seen encouraging progress, with women increasingly represented right across our industry – from executive leadership to on-site operations.”
“Efforts to improve female participation include the adoption of more flexible and family-friendly FIFO rosters and a continued strong focus on improving both the quality and culture of FIFO camps.
“Many resources companies are also national leaders in parental leave benefits and strive to accommodate the needs of parents – both men and women – as they return to work.”
The WGEA report measures the difference in average earnings between all men and all women across an organisation or industry. It does not compare remuneration for individuals performing the same role.
Equal pay for men and women undertaking the same job is a longstanding legal requirement in Australia and is strictly upheld across the resources sector.
The reported gender pay gap reflects overall workforce composition, including the distribution of men and women across different occupations, levels of seniority and working patterns.
In industries such as mining, where men remain overrepresented in certain operational and senior roles, this workforce profile influences the aggregate gender pay gap reported in the data.
CME’s most recent Diversity and Inclusion Report found a record 5437 women joined the resources sector in the two years to 2023. Female participation stood at 24.8 per cent – up from 19 per cent in 2013.
Encouragingly, women held nearly one third of board roles (32.8 per cent), up from 24.4 per cent in 2021.
The proportion of women in management positions also rose to 23.5 per cent, up from 20.7 per cent, while 21.4 per cent of machinery operators and drivers were female in 2023 – up from 17 per cent in 2021.
Media contacts:
Josh Zimmerman j.zimmerman@cmewa.com / 0404 947 719
Natasha Mutch n.mutch@cmewa.com / 0435 383 382