NEW ABS DATA SUPPORTS NEED FOR URGENT ACTION ON UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE EARLY LEARNING, PAID PARENTAL LEAVE AND ABOLISHING ACTIVITY TEST
25 October 2023 – New Australian Bureau of Statistics data released yesterday has revealed that only a quarter of two-parent families with children aged 0-4 years have both parents working full-time[1].
The findings highlight the need for urgent action on a universally accessible early learning system that will help ease the cost of living for families and promote greater economic participation by parents, especially mothers.
The data also notes that in two-parent families:
- 76.5% of mothers (or the younger same-sex parent) are employed compared with 89.7% of fathers (or the older same-sex parent).
- In two-parent families with children aged 0-4 years, the employment rate for mothers (or the younger same-sex parent) is 69.5%.
- In two-parent families with dependents aged 15-24 years, the employment rate for mothers (or the younger same-sex parent) is 80.4%.
The new data comes days after the Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce’s final report found the Australian economy could be up to $128 billion better off by “purposefully removing the persistent and pervasive barriers to women’s full and equal participation in economic activity [2].
Minderoo Foundation’s Jay Weatherill said better supporting the workforce participation of parents with young children, particularly women, would ease the cost of living pressures on families, boost productivity and help address labour shortages.
“Reform of the early learning system is vital for children, the contribution of parents to our economy and gender equality,” Mr Weatherill said.
“A universally accessible, high quality, low-cost early learning system will boost living standards by reducing cost and increasing household income and it will play a big role in fixing the gender pay gap, not to mention the positive impact on children’s development and education.
“It is also clear that the Activity Test is an obsolete and restrictive policy measure that must be scrapped.
“Most concerning is work by eminent economist Dr Angela Jackson that found single parents, low-income families, First Nations families and parents who are shift workers are among the most negatively impacted by the Activity Test [3].
“The Activity Test is forcing more than 126,000 children from low-income households in Australia to miss out on early childhood education and care.
“A universally accessible early learning system, more generous paid parental leave and abolishing the Activity Test are key reforms for better supporting our children and families and the economy.”
