WOMEN aged over 45 have increased their workforce participation from 47 per cent to 78 per cent in three decades, much faster than younger women, and doubled their share of hours worked.

The trend of women retiring at an earlier age than men has also dramatically narrowed, with the gap now just under two years, according to a Productivity Commission report.In 1979 only 47 per cent of women aged 45-54 worked, as against 92 per cent of men. By 2009, this gap had narrowed significantly, with 78 per cent of mature women working, a workforce participation rate just 10 per cent behind men.

With their children at school or having left the nest, women aged 45-54 work the highest average hours of any age group of women.
The commission said women aged 45-64 now contributed 15 per cent of all hours of paid work, up from 6 per cent in 1979.
The report attributed the growth to greater social acceptance, diversity of household living arrangements and the growth of part-time and flexible employment.

It also found a strong link between higher education levels and women working beyond 45. Women with caring responsibilities or a long-term health problem were far less likely to work, with a quarter of women citing poor health as the reason for retirement.

Unemployment in this age group is low, showing strong demand for mature-aged female workers.
The boost in the number of mature-aged women working has also come in areas that did not traditionally employ women, such as the energy, trade, IT and telecommunications sectors.

Although Australia ranks above the OECD average, it lags New Zealand (82 per cent) and Britain (80 per cent), when it comes to involving mature women in the workforce, coming 18th out of 33.

The report said there was no clear relationship between female-dominated industries and gender pay gaps. Gender wage gaps were high in community services, where women account for 70 per cent of staff, and technical occupations, where women make up about 13 per cent of workers.

Source: The Age

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