Women and the future of work: Report 1 of the Australian Women’s Working Futures Project

This publication reports the findings from a combined quantitative and qualitative study of Australian working women, aged under 40. It draws together four separate data sources: a nationally representative online survey of (n=2,109) working women under 40; a smaller comparative survey of (n=502) working men under 40; additional boosted survey sample among (n=53) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander working women aged under 40; and the findings from five focus groups of (n=41) working women under 40. Quantitative fieldwork was conducted between September and October, while qualitative fieldwork was conducted in November 2017., At the time of being surveyed: over half of the women in the sample (55 per cent) were working full-time or part-time for an employer, a fifth (19 per cent) were working on a casual, freelance or short-term contract basis and 6 per cent were self-employed. Half of the women (55 per cent) were working in the private sector, 28 per cent in the public sector and 6 per cent for not-for-profit organisations. Over half (56 per cent) were working in four industry sectors: retail trade, healthcare and social assistance, education and training, and accommodation and food services. A sample profile is included at the end of the Methodology section (Section 2)., Findings are presented about: Working life; Workforce skills and training; Job security and working; Work and home; Management and communications; Equality; and Aspirations.