Good News For Women

:Labor force data released this week shows that female employment remains high while wages growth remains strong.

The Minister for Family and Community Services and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women’s Issues, Senator Kay Patterson, said that across the board female employment is strong with female unemployment at just 5.4%.

Since the Howard Government came to office, female employment has grown strongly, in March 1996 female unemployment was 7.6%.

Over 1.6 million new jobs have been created since the Howard Government was elected.

Female earnings are growing faster than male earnings and the gap between male and female earnings is closing under the Howard Government.

Over the past year Female Full-Time Adult Ordinary Time Earnings grew more strongly at 4.9% over the year compared to a 4.7% growth for men.

Since the Howard Government came to office women’s earnings have increased by 22.3% compared with 19.7% for male earnings.

Through our strong economic management, Australian women now have more opportunities and choice, including those provided by workforce participation.