New research has revealed that female mining professionals are being paid 27.1% less than their male counterparts.
Research from the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM), which surveyed about 3,000 workers nationally, shows the pay gap between men and women in the mining sector increases with seniority, as only 2.7% of CEOs in mining companies are women.
Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy chief executive Michael Catchpole said: “These results demonstrate persistent and unacceptable differences in the career opportunities and salaries between male and female mining professionals.
“Mining engineers, geologists, metallurgical and materials engineers, environmental scientists and other professions working in the mining sector.”
The gap is particularly seen in senior career positions and is said to have increased over a period of time.
According to the report, female professionals face a constant gender pay gap and also have less access to career progression.
AusIMM Women in Mining Network chair Lynn Olssen said: “It is unacceptable that the gender pay gap remains so wide.
“There are increasing female participation rates and positive signs of a shift to wages parity for graduates and early career professionals. However, this has not flowed through to senior roles with major pay gaps and low female representation at senior levels.”
Catchpole added: “Companies should conduct a pay equity audit right across their national ranks and take immediate steps to address this problem.”