The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) has found men still dominate top executive roles, despite being out-performed by women.

Internal reports obtained under freedom of information laws reveal an investigation to see whether men at PM&C receive better performance ratings, and so might be more likely to receive a promotion.

However, it found that even though women were outperforming men in some parts of the organisation, only two of the nine top executives were female.

The department says the report was used to form part of its gender-equality action plan, aimed at closing its 8.6 per cent gender pay gap.

The PM&C pay gap “entirely reflects the fact that women are, on average, employed at lower pay classifications than men”, according to the documents obtained by the ABC.

The report also found that part-time workers tended to receive lower performance ratings than full-time workers, and that 17 per cent of women work part-time at PM&C, compared to 5 per cent of men.

“Part-time workers' lower performance ratings could either reflect bias or actual lower performances outcomes [or some mix of both],” the report states.

“In any case, it is plausible that part-time workers' lower performance ratings are weighing on the number of women in more senior positions, since family care responsibilities tend to fall more heavily on women.”

Other “potential factors” for the relative lack of women in senior roles, included;

  • more women being in administrative occupations
  • the qualifications or experience of men
  • senior cohorts leftover from a time with an even deeper male-skewed gender balance
  • the effect of women taking carer responsibilities

The report found more work is needed test the importance of these factors.

The CPSU says the Australian Public Service Gender Equality Strategy 2016-19 ignores “structural causes of gender gaps”.

CPSU national secretary Nadine Flood said the Federal Government is “not serious about addressing the gender wage gap”.

“We have seen attempts to remove a range of conditions and rights that support flexible working arrangements and the workforce participation of those with caring responsibilities,” she said.

The Australian Public Service Commission says; “It is the responsibility of leaders, managers and supervisors to be vigilant in making sure employees who work full and part time have opportunities for development and career progression”.