CANBERRA, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Australia's women are closing the wage gap but men still earn an average 26,527 AU dollars (20,000 U.S. dollars) more across all industries and occupations, said a survey.
The findings are contained in the latest annual snapshot from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA).
The federal government-funded watchdog surveyed more than 11,000 employers in the year to March 31, covering more than 4 million workers, or 40 percent of the country's workforce.
WGEA director Libby Lyons said there was a "step change" after four years of pressuring employers to focus on gender equality.
She welcomed the increase in employers analysing pay data to address the gender gap - the number was up 11 percentage points on last year - but said there was much more to be done.
"More employers than ever are prioritising gender pay equity as a business imperative," Lyons told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Friday.
"But whether you are a manager, a scientist, a butcher, a baker or even a TV presenter, there is a gender pay gap favoring men."
Financial and insurance services have the biggest discrepancy at 31.9 percent, although this was down from 33.5 percent last year.
Men earn more in every category: an average 6,472 AU dollars (4,880 U.S. dollars) for clerical and administrative workers, and 28,042 AU dollars (21,146 U.S. dollars) for technicians and trades workers.
Big differences also exist in rental, hiring and real estate services, construction, agriculture, forestry and fishing, and professional, scientific and technical services.
However, women are moving closer to pay parity in accommodation and food services, education and training, wholesale trade and public administration.
While the pay gap may be narrowing, there has been little change in the poor representation of women on company boards and in management positions.
The snapshot indicated the percentage of women in board positions is unmoved at 25 percent.
