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Implied via equal-value standardOceania

Is job evaluation required by law in Australia?

Australia empowers the Fair Work Commission to order equal remuneration for work of equal or comparable value, and since 2022 to address historical gender-based undervaluation across occupations. 'Work value' is assessed by the tribunal rather than mandated as an employer method, with the care-economy reviews the leading examples.

What the law requires

Fair Work Commission may order equal remuneration for work of equal or comparable value via a tribunal work-value assessment.

Compensable factors referenced: Work value / comparable value (tribunal-assessed).

The law

Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), s.302; Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012
In force 2009; strengthened Dec 2022
Citation: Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), s.302

What this means for employers

Australia does not name a specific evaluation method, but its equal-value standard means that when pay claims arise, jobs are compared on factors like skill, effort, responsibility and working conditions. A documented, analytical job evaluation gives employers the evidence base courts and regulators look for — without one, equal-value comparisons happen on someone else's terms.

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Informational summary of legal requirements, not legal advice. Verify against primary sources before relying on it.

Last reviewed: 2026-06-11