Early and mid-career women make up a notable chunk of the 57 per cent expressing uncertainty and dissatisfaction over their career advancement, the Women in Media group’s Industry Insights Report shows.

About half of women with five to 10 years of experience said they were not progressing as desired and a third of early-career women expressed dissatisfaction at a lack of opportunities.

The 2024 report which surveyed 329 women working in diverse media roles across Australia found career dissatisfaction is at a three-year high.

Amid calls from seven in 10 women wanting gender pay audits, about 56 per cent perceive the industry as being weak on gender equality, with pay equity a significant issue.

Australian women on average made about $269 less than men per week, equating to a seven per cent pay gap, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

For those in the media industry, that gap rises to nine per cent or about $409 less.

Combine those factors and 35 per cent of women are contemplating quitting in the next 12 months.

Report author Petra Buchanan said the study highlighted the increase in levels of anxiety and unhappiness.

“Career aspirations are being overshadowed by concerns about pay and lack of opportunities,” she said.

Amid a cost of living crisis, 58 per cent of women were concerned about better pay.

The same proportion worry about the availability of senior roles while just under half are concerned about limited progression.

One in four women fear being made redundant.

“The financial pressures being felt across various sectors of the economy currently are starkly reflected in these findings,” Ms Buchanan said.

“Increasingly, senior and mid-career women are considering quitting their jobs driven by worry about the availability of senior roles and increased fear of redundancy.”

More than a quarter of respondents say an engaging and positively challenging workplace was crucial to progression but almost half are concerned about budget cuts and a lack of resources.

The report called on employers to be more transparent and commit to gender equality in remuneration and the workplace and to make career opportunities clearer to help women’s progression.

They should also focus on providing easier access to upskilling in emerging technologies and fostering an engaging and positively challenging environment.

CAREER PROGRESS

* 57 per cent of women are dissatisfied or unsure about their career progress, with spikes among early and mid-career women

* 49 per cent of women with 5-10 years of experience said they are not progressing as desired

* 47 per cent of early-career women are dissatisfied

* Over one-third attribute their dissatisfaction to a lack of opportunities

* 35 per cent of women are considering quitting their jobs in the next 12 months, particularly senior and mid-career professionals

GENDER EQUALITY

* 56 per cent hold a negative view of the media industry’s commitment to gender equality

* Australian women on average make about $269 less than men per week, equating to a seven per cent pay gap, but for women in the media industry, that gap rises to nine per cent or about $409 less

* 69 per cent of respondents advocate for gender pay audits to address the media industry’s gender pay gap

PAY

* 58 per cent are concerned about better pay

* The desire for better pay was cited as the main reason for women choosing to stay or leave their current roles

* 58 per cent worry about the availability of senior roles

* 47 per cent are concerned about limited promotional opportunities

* 25 per cent fear being made redundant

SUPPORT AND RESOURCES

* 27 per cent believe being engaged or positively challenged is crucial to career progress

* 48 per cent are concerned about the impact of budget cuts and a lack of resources

* 46 per cent prioritise training on artificial intelligence, followed by podcasting and digital technology

* Two-thirds are positive about using AI for research and content creation

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

* Enhance transparency and commitment to gender equality in the workplace, including pay

* Define and communicate career opportunities to aid women’s progression

* Focus on providing training in AI, podcasting, and digital technology

* Foster an environment where women feel engaged and positively challenged