Women still at super disadvantage

25 July 2019
| By Mike |
image
image
expand image

The push to achieve superannuation equality for women continues to be undermined by broken employment patterns, according to the latest research from the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA).

The research, published this week, found that there was a clear correlation between average account balance and age and income level but that females tended to be worse off because of time out of the workforce.

It said that average account balances increased with age and at any given age were very strongly correlated to income level.

“However, females tend to have slightly lower average account balances compared to males of similar age and income level, particularly after around age 45,” it said. “Breaks from paid work due to family responsibilities contribute to these outcomes.”

The ASFA research said that, as well, there are more females than males in the lower income bands and fewer in the tax bands above $87,000.

“This is a strong contributing factor to entire population of females having less superannuation than the entire population of males on average,” it said.

The average balance for males aged 60 to 64 in the $37,001 to $87,000 tax bracket in 2016-17 was $280,468 and for females it was $268,910. In comparison, the average balance for males aged 60 to 64 in the $87,001 to $180,000 tax bracket was $530,401 and for females it was $570,556.

Balances for those in the $180,000 plus tax bracket are even higher. Tables 4 to 7 set out the number of people with superannuation and average account balance and median account balance by age and gender for each income tax band.

Read more about:

AUTHOR

Recommended for you

sub-bgsidebar subscription

Never miss the latest developments in Super Review! Anytime, Anywhere!

Grant Banner

From my perspective, 40- 50% of people are likely going to be deeply unhappy about how long they actually live. ...

1 year 1 month ago
Kevin Gorman

Super director remuneration ...

1 year 1 month ago
Anthony Asher

No doubt true, but most of it is still because over 45’s have been upgrading their houses with 30 year mortgages. Money ...

1 year 1 month ago

While the controversial measures have received little support in the Senate, the think tank has said Division 296 would “make the nation’s super system fairer”....

18 hours ago

In its pre-election policy document, the FSC highlighted 15 priority reforms, with superannuation featuring prominently, urging both major parties to avoid changing super...

18 hours ago

With the merger between Mine Super and TWUSuper in its late stages, the head of the soon-to-be combined fund is the latest to join ASFA’s board. ...

19 hours ago

TOP PERFORMING FUNDS