Bisexual participants also had higher rates of unemployment and labour force non-participation, according to the study. They were also more likely to work part-time or take unpaid leave.  

LGBTQ+ Australians were also underrepresented in various sectors, particularly cis-male-dominated and culturally conservative sectors such as trades, manual occupations, agriculture, and construction.  

“Our findings show that employment inequalities for LGBTQ+ Australians persist even when accounting for age, education, and socioeconomic background,” said Dee Tomic, a research fellow at Monash University who led the study, in a statement.  

Workplace barriers driving disparities  

Tomic said their findings suggest “structural and workplace-level barriers” impacting LGBTQ+ workers’ access to secure employment.  

These barriers potentially include discriminatory hiring practices or workplace cultures, according to the study. Â