Women in media unconvinced by gender equality | Australian Markets

Women are being pushed out of the media industry by financial pressures, stalled growth and lack of progress on gender equity.

Career dissatisfaction amongst girls has risen to 59 per cent, the very best stage in 4 years, based on the Women in Media Industry Insight Report 2025 launched on Monday.

Pay has overtaken all different components because the main driver of girls leaving their jobs, with 29 per cent citing it as their main concern.

One in three girls is contemplating leaving their job and almost half need to exit the industry altogether.

Despite law reforms requiring employers to publish gender pay gaps and improve respect in the office, 74 per cent of girls mentioned their employer had not taken clear motion to handle pay disparities.

Almost 80 per cent mentioned there had been no significant enchancment to tradition or security in the office.

The report confirmed girls working in the media have been unconvinced about gender equality efforts, lead creator and Women in Media strategic advisor Petra Buchanan mentioned.

It additionally confirmed a disconnect between efforts being made by the industry and how workers perceived them.

“The media shapes our public narratives and is pivotal in how women are represented,” she instructed AAP.

“There’s a lot of conversation about gender equality but women aren’t feeling it in the workplace.”

Nearly 40 per cent of girls surveyed have been contemplating quitting, with this pattern highest amongst mid-career and senior girls.

Lack of alternatives for promotion and managerial assist have been famous as the highest profession limitations.

There are additionally main structural imbalances in management in Australian media.

Despite girls making up 41 per cent of the workforce, they maintain simply 23 per cent of chief government and managing director roles.

The average gender pay hole in the media is 10 per cent, with 16.4 per cent in publishing and 11.8 per cent in broadcasting.

“Women are calling on media employers to lead with intent and communicate how they are addressing workplace issues, from closing the gender pay gap to implementing meaningful structural and cultural reform,” Ms Buchanan mentioned.

“Employer and industry action is essential to address inequity and ensure women thrive.

“Now is the time for Australian media organisations to double down, not step back, from their equality commitments.”