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Location: Home  »  Work and Education  » Work and Economic Security

Work and Economic Security

More women are in paid work than ever before. In October 2005, 64.8 per cent of women aged 15-64 were in paid work. While the gap is closing, there is still disparity between rates of pay for men and women. In November 2005, women earned 84.8 per cent of men's full time average earnings.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics publishes a wide range of statistics on the labour force and its terms and definitions are generally used by commentators in Australia.

• Superannuation

  Retirement planning is important in an ageing population structure. Typically, today's retired women are living on lower retirement incomes than their male counterparts. Planning and saving for retirement can help tomorrow's female retirees to achieve better retirement incomes.

• Small Business

  Women account for 32% of Australia's 1.66 million small business operators.

• Work and Family

  Balancing work, family and caring responsibilities is a major issue for many parents and carers and it has been found that regardless of whether they work full-time or part-time, women in Australia undertake the majority of housework and care of children and other relatives.