Gender equity: Report shows benefits for companies with gender balance, but mining sector is slow to act

The West Australian mining sector has made almost no improvements when it comes to balancing the number of men and women in the workforce over the past three years, new research has found.

The 10th report in the Gender Equity Insights Series from Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre and the Workplace Gender Equality Agency found fewer than one in three organisations nationally have a gender-balanced workforce.

The mining sector, which runs the majority of operations in WA, had one of the lowest rates for gender equity. Credit: Louie Douvis

It also showed companies that did not create a balance saw a higher turnover rate and lowered productivity, while those with a balance showed better resilience in tough markets and greater performance across a range of metrics.

For a $1 billion ASX