CANBERRA -- A gender pay gap continues to exist across every industry in Australia, with 83 percent of employers in male-dominated industries showing a gender pay gap, and women earn nearly 30,000 Australian dollars ($18,630) less than men a year, according to a government report on Tuesday.

The employer gender pay gaps report shows half of all employers still pay men over 12 percent more than women and, nationally, women still earn an average of 28,425 Australian dollars ($17,652) per annum less.

Published the second time by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, the report covers 7,800 individual employers and 1,700 corporate groups, with over half improving their gender pay gap compared to last year.

Nationwide, 5,347 employers, or 72.2 percent, have a gender pay gap in favor of men, while 21.3 percent maintain a neutral gap, defined as an average pay difference of plus or minus 5 percent. Meanwhile, 6.5 percent, or 474 employers, report a pay gap that benefits women, the report said.

The public reporting of gender pay gap data provides an incentive for employers to take steps to address the gender pay gap, it said, adding there is an increase in the number of employers consulting their staff on gender equality, with more employers conducting analyses of their pay gap.

Although progress has been made, additional reforms are essential to speed up the reduction of the gender pay gap. Key legislation currently under consideration in Parliament could play a crucial role in driving this necessary change, according to Minister for Women Katy Gallagher.