Gender pay gap remains at 3% in 2021 MFA Census
The Media Federation of Australia 2021 industry census was published this morning, completed by all MFA member agencies in September 2021.
The findings reported media agencies employee numbers rose in 2021 by 19.1%, with 4,412 people now employed in the media agency space across Australia. The MFA said this is higher than any figure previously recorded.
Despite the increase, the industry also reported high vacancy rates of 12%, double the “normal levels”, according to the industry body. Last year, the MFA census found 3,703 people were employed by media agencies in 2020, down from 3,902 in 2019, prior to the pandemic.
This is an incredibly inspiring result that our industry should be proud of. This is great progress across the board for equality.
One area of interest would be for agencies to consider more aged workers or those with over 15 years experience. I know that as a woman over 50, last count, I was one of only 1% of workers in the industry still working despite many being at the top of their game. That old belief that it is about money that pushes people out is not true for many workers in fact. Many older workers would happily work for equivalent salaries if there were equivalent career opportunities and it meant retaining a career as opposed to being unemployable. That’s another story to those who are experienced and should be valued for the outcomes, efficiencies and effectiveness that the time sheet model doesn’t enable.
All the same – the big thing about this report is that it is going to do more good for the industry by benchmarking what good progress looks like, keeping the industry accountable more so than other reports just released that are harmful and shaming men in the industry needlessly. Good stuff @MFA
Seems like the media sector of the advertising industry and the media networks are improving and a good example to other agency types too.