Women earn between 10% to 37% less than men in Australia’s gig economy

The Guardian reports that women in gig economy roles in Australia earn between 10% and 37% less than men, citing research from the Queensland University of Technology research team. 

For the same work, men earned on average AUD 2.67 per hour more than women, though about 40% of gig economy workers do not know what their hourly rate is. 

Women were also significantly more likely to earn less than AUD 40,000 annually off-platform. They are more likely to be homemakers or unpaid carers – or, if employed, to be in work that is part-time, casual, or on a fixed-term contract. 

Men in the gig economy are more likely to work in software development and technology, transport and food delivery and skilled trade, while women are more likely to participate in historically feminised work such as clerical and data entry, sales and marketing support, writing and translation and care work. 

According to the research, 14% of women nominated the location of their platform work as being “in the home of an individual client”, compared to 5% of men. 

The Victorian government had established an inquiry into the on-demand workforce back in 2018 and has accepted all 20 recommendations either fully or in principle, including developing standards on fair conditions and pay. Earlier this month, the government of the state of Victoria, announced the launch of the Victoria Sick Pay Guarantee, a paid sick leave programme for casual workers and contract workers.