Data compiled for ASFA by the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicates that average super balances for 2013-14 were up 20 per cent from 2011-12 – $98,535 for men and $54,916 for women.
“Even though account balances are increasing overall for women, the statistics still show that men are more likely to have superannuation than women, and also that men on average have a higher account balance,” ASFA chief executive Pauline Vamos said.
“In many cases, broken work patterns and lower average wages still impede women’s ability to save for retirement.”
ASFA said the average balance for men at the time of retirement was $292,500 in 2013-14, while for women it came to $138,150.
According to the association, women have experienced a smaller percentage increase than men in average balance at the time of retirement, with the average super balance for men increasing by 48.5 per cent over the two years to 2013-14 compared with 31.6 per cent for women.
Moreover, the share of superannuation assets held by women, currently 36.4 per cent, also plateaued over the four years to 2013-14.
“ASFA has proposed a number of options for improving the economic security of women in retirement, including raising and broadening the superannuation guarantee, retaining the Low Income Superannuation Contribution Scheme and amending annual contribution caps to enable people with broken working patterns to ‘catch up’ on their superannuation contributions,” Ms Vamos said.
Government, employers and individuals must take action on the gender disparity within super, the association said.
“It is great to see that average superannuation account balances are rising, but there is still a way to go to ensure that the majority of Australians can retire in comfort,” Ms Vamos said.
This discussion around gender pay gaps and the allegedly resultant gender super balance gaps is simply crap. How poor is the research and analysis on this topic? From what I see, the salaries of all males are combined to form an average and the same done for women. Bingo bango, there’s a difference. No gender equality is the obvious answer, apparently. Does the research ever get any more in depth? Do they compare the incomes of males and females in different job categories allowing for years of experience and based on a say a 40 hour week? If i’m a male teacher that hasn’t stopped working to have and care for a child and have progressed in a head teacher role and earn say $100K pa but i’m compared to a female teacher who has had 2 or 3 career interruptions to have kids, and now only works a 5 day fortnight for say $40K because she’s trying to balance work and kids, is that really a gender pay gap??
Last time I looked, men cant have babies and cant breastfeed.
I expect the difference in super for people in capital cities compared to those in the regions is bigger. The gap here is caused because there’s not equal pay for equal work. Will this make any agendas?
The argument for same work/different pay is due to lower housing costs. People in Sydney don’t take a wage cut though once their house is paid off (so no longer need the extra money). And super is for retirement, where costs are very comparable no matter where you live.
I wonder if wages were the same everywhere in Australia if that would help ease the housing affordability in Sydney? Another discussion.