A study shows the gender pay gap is getting worse, with an 18 per cent difference in average weekly earnings between sexes / File Source: Supplied

After improving between 1972 and 1977, the gender pay gap has worsened in the 21st century. Women were earning on average 88 per cent of the male average wage in 1977 but that had fallen back to just 82 per cent in May 2010, research by KPMG shows.

The average pay gap between men and women workers grew by $7.90 per week in the last 12 months from $231.40 a week to $239.30 a week.

This means women will have to work three days longer in 2010 compared to 2009 to reach an equal pay packet.

"We need to be focusing our efforts on achieving pay equity for women who are doing work of equal value to men, not necessarily the exact same job," Diversity Council Australia acting director of research Lisa Annese said.

Ms Annese said said the findings showed the importance of continuing the national debate about pay equity and what it really means.

“The fact is that the gap between male and female average full-time weekly earnings does exist and is currently almost 18 per cent,“ Ms Annese said.

Just over three quarters (76 per cent) of Australians agree that steps should be taken to close the pay gap between men and women, a survey conducted by the Diversity Council of Australia showed.

“There is a firm belief in the possibility of change and it’s important therefore to keep the momentum to make it happen,“ Ms Annese said.

The research results were released at an Equal Pay Day event to educate businesses on tackling the pay gap, sponsored the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA) and hosted by Ernst & Young.

Acting EOWA Director Mairi Steele encouraged Australian businesses to focus on the gender pay gap in their organisation.

"Equal Pay Day marks the 66 extra days – three days more than 2009 – that women have to work after the end of the financial year to earn the same as men," she said.

-With The Daily Telegraph