The proportion of women working in the financial and insurance services sector has dropped over the last decade, according to a Workplace Gender Equality Agency report.

In 1995 58.1% of employees were female, compared with 51.1% last year.

The study also shows that, across all sectors, women are more likely to hold key management roles and earn more money working in female-dominated industries.

It finds that the Australian labour market has become more gender-segregated by industry and occupation over the past 20 years.

Traditionally female-dominated industries such as healthcare and social assistance, and education and training have seen female representation grow, while some traditionally male-dominated industries such as construction and wholesale have recorded a decline.

Other traditionally male industries such as electricity, gas, water and waste services, and transport, postal and warehousing have raised female representation.

While men dominate leadership roles across all industries, women are more likely to hold senior management positions in female-dominated industries, the report shows.

The average salary for female-dominated organisations is lower than male-dominated businesses, but the pay gap for women working in senior positions in male-dominated organisations is smaller.

Women were paid $18,137 less than men on average in female-dominated industries, compared with $24,485 less in male-dominated industries.

The difference in pay gap between male and female-dominated industries is due to the emphasis on performance pay and additional remuneration in male-dominated industries, the report says.

Male-dominated workplaces have smaller proportions of part-time employees and their full-time employees work longer hours – factors that may deter women with families.