Record-high career dissatisfaction due to inequality and a lack of opportunities could lead to an exodus of women from Australia's media industry.
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.
