NZ women are more impacted by the labour market effects of pandemics and economic downturns
Even though the official pay gap statistic shows the nationwide gender pay gap remains statistically stable at 9.5%, when and how the data was collected will conceal many of the impacts of COVID-19 on women, according to the Minister for Women, Julie Anne Genter.
Research has been collected by Stats NZ from March to July – during and immediately after COVID-19 levels 4 and 3 lockdown.
Genter explained that weekly earnings for women increased 4.8% and 3.1% for men – which does not count the large numbers of women in precarious or low paid work who may have lost their jobs or are receiving the wage subsidy, leaving higher earning women in the remaining workforce.
“Gender equity matters now more than ever – women, particularly non-European women, are more impacted by the labour market effects of pandemics and economic downturns,” said Genter.
“Affordable childcare has a huge impact on women’s availability for work, and will be critical in supporting women back into the workforce in the COVID-19 recovery.
“Government initiatives – such as the wage subsidy, minimum wage increases and pay equity settlements with teachers and nurses – will have supported both men and women during this difficult time.”
Read more: Gender gap: 'Lack of support' topmost challenge
Banking has recently become New Zealand’s first fully living wage accredited industry, leading to nearly 1800 employees and contractors moving onto the living wage.
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This meant all 17 members of the New Zealand Bankers’ Association, and the association itself, have been fully accredited.
Annie Newman, Living Wage National Convenor, added that this is the first time we have had a whole sector showing leadership around a Living Wage.
“Banks are leading the way for many other sectors that could afford to follow suit and that’s important at a time when across the country so many workers are struggling during this COVID crisis,” said Newman.
“The message is, if you work in a bank you will be paid a decent wage whether you are a bank employee, a security guard or a cleaner. That’s fantastic.”
However, Genter added that it’s particularly important to “be vigilant to support women in their employment” to avoid a repeat of the long-term impacts on women from the Global Financial Crisis.
“I congratulate those employers in New Zealand who are supporting women by closing their gender pay gaps and have fair and inclusive workplaces,” said Genter.
“The gender pay gap is not immovable – it responds when chief executives decide to support diversity and pay equality and make changes to support women within their organisations.”
Read more: Revealed: 4 ways to beat gender bias
Genter added that there is clearly more work to do so “our daughters get paid fairly, like our sons”.
“This Government is delivering for women by passing pay equity legislation, delivering record pay settlements for female dominated workforces, and closing the gender pay gap with the Action Plan in the public sector,” said Genter.
Moreover, the number of women working in tourism industries fell 8.4% – 11,300 fewer women in the June 2020 quarter compared with a year ago. This is the largest decrease for women in tourism industries since 2009.
Key tourism industries including accommodation, passenger transport, travel agencies, sightseeing operators, and cafes and restaurants were hit hard by the COVID-19 lockdown in April. This followed the border closure to international tourists in late March, according to labour market statistics manager Andrew Neal.
The effects on these industries were a large drop in the number of women employed, overall fewer hours worked, and lower earnings, compared with the same time in 2019.
“Tourism is more prone to fluctuations in hours worked, but the 32.7% drop in the June 2020 quarter is a record low and four times larger than the next worst fall,” said Neal.
“This shows how much the lockdown and ongoing COVID-19 impacts have disproportionately impacted tourism industries.”