Fed: Gender pay gap affecting fertility rates: research

AAP General News (Australia)
12-10-2008
Fed: Gender pay gap affecting fertility rates: research

Embargoed until 0001 AEDT Wednesday, Dec 10



CANBERRA, Dec 10 AAP - The gender pay gap is impacting on Australia's birth rate, new
research suggests.

The number of women working and the hours they work have been on the rise during the
past decade, in contrast to the static rate for men, the Australian Institute of Family
Studies has found.

Despite this, women continue to earn, on average, eight per cent less than men, a gap
slightly wider than a decade ago.

The research shows women also take on the majority of family responsibilities, which
is affecting decisions to have children.

Research author Lixia Qu said some couples defer or have fewer children than they desire
while others cope by having one parent, usually the mother, reduce paid work hours.

"Ultimately strategies aimed at reducing family size will affect a
nation's total fertility rate," Dr Qu said.

Institute director Alan Hayes says society and workplaces have not kept up with the
increasing number of women in bread-winning roles.

"And women are bearing the burden," he said.

AAP sld/rl/wf

KEYWORD: WOMEN (EMBARGOED)

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