According to recent Roy Morgan statistics, the average superannuation balance held by women at $92,000 is 40% below the average held by men ($154,000). In terms of the more typical or median value the difference is even greater with women being 45% below that of men ($28,000 compared to $51,000).

The government has addressed this problem by planning to increase the superannuation guarantee from 9% to 12% by the 2019/2020 budget year and to provide a lower cost option through the introduction of “My Super”.

But is this significant difference between the sexes an issue of inequality? Or is it due to lifestyle factors that suggest woman are more likely to stop work or begin working part time to stay at home and start a family?

Source:  Roy Morgan Research - Article No. 1539

According to ABS Australian Social Trends December 2011, there has been an increase in participation in the labour force over the last 50 years, particularly for women.Today, people are working an increasingly diverse range of hours and patterns, often related to their stage of life or family circumstances.

That said, even though the participation rates for women have experienced large gains over the last 50 years, participation rates for men still remain higher.

One of the most noticeable developments in the labour market over the past 50 years has been the substantial growth in part-time work.  Part-time work enables people to combine work with other activities and commitments. This is especially important for women whom balancing work and family life is a constant challenge, especially for families with young children. Achieving this balance is important for the wellbeing of parents and their children.

Having young children has a large influence on women's labour force participation. Nowadays many women reduce their working hours while their children are young, rather than leave the labour force altogether as was previously the case. Part-time work has always been dominated by women: close to three-quarters of part-timers were women in August 2011.