workforce
Gender split
Pay rise could attract more men to workforce .
By Elise Hartevelt
The pay rise for aged care staff will help attract more men to the care sector , an aged care peak body has said , but more than 15 per cent is needed .
Aged Care Workforce Industry Council ( ACWIC ) response comes after CEDA ’ s report released in January called for action to address Australia ’ s high levels of gender segregation .
One out of ten people in the aged care workforce is female , whereas only 12 per cent of women are in construction and 16 per cent in mining .
ACWIC chair Libby Lyons said the report ‘ rightly highlighted how care work is perceived as women ’ s work .’
“ We are experiencing a workforce crisis in aged care ,” Lyons said .
“ We need more people to join the sector , including men , and to be paid a decent wage when they do .”
In December 2022 , the Fair Work Commission ( FWC ) ruled that aged care workers would receive a 15 per cent wage increase .
However , major aged care peaks , including ACWIC , have been pushing for a 25 per cent rise .
“ Improving wages in sectors that have been historically undervalued , such as aged care , will help to close the gender pay gap and increase the pool of potential workers ,” Lyons said .
“ We simply cannot meet the needs of our ageing population if we do not make the aged care sector a more attractive place to work for both women and men .” Lyons said the sector ’ s poor image , including low pay and beliefs around poor career structure and progression , is also blocking men from entering the workforce .
Currently , the Australian award wage for care workers is nearly a third lower than disability carers , with an average hourly wage of $ 23 and $ 33 , respectively .
Over 10 per cent of aged care staff hold a second job to get by , according to government data .
CEDA chief executive Melinda Cilento said a wage raise would help but wouldn ’ t tackle the underlying reasons behind gender segregation in aged care .
“ While many social , historical and economic factors have driven this segregation , most of the remaining barriers to change are cultural ,” Cilento said .
“ Major structural shifts , including digital transformation and an ageing population , will require a much more agile labour market than we have now .
“ If economic and social barriers prevent flexible movement between occupations , we will not be able to respond to these changes .”
CEDA ’ s senior economist Cassandra Winzar agreed and emphasised that if we want to solve the workforce crisis , we should consider making the sector attractive for men .
“ If we want to do something about growing the workforce , we need to look at some of those under-represented groups ,” Winzar told ABC News .
“ And the most under-represented group in the aged care workforce is actually men .
“ We must tackle these entrenched cultural barriers wherever they exist .”
The CEDA report recommended that the government strengthen family-friendly policies , including making paid parental leave more gender-equal under a ‘ use-itor-lose-it system .’
It also said reducing tax rates for primary caregivers and access to affordable childcare would lower gender segregation in aged care . ■
26 agedcareinsite . com . au