Female conveyancers outnumber men five to one

Female conveyancers outnumber their male counterparts by almost five to one, new data shows.

Australian Conveyancer analysis of government figures dating back to the 1980s shows the fascinating change in the make-up of the industry.

§ The changing make-up of the conveyancing workforce

Back in 1987, Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) surveys show male conveyancers held a slight majority with 53% of the 3,590 workforce.

Latest ABS data shows the number of female conveyancers makes up 83 per cent of the 21,151 total.

While the shift has been gradual, a significant increase in the number of females becoming conveyancers occurred around the time eConveyancing was rolled out a decade ago.

In 1987, the sector was made up of 1,670 women and 1,921 men, according to ABS data.

Over the next 10 years, another 1,961 women joined the industry – while only another 266 men became conveyancers. The gap continued to widen up to 1996 when another 259 men joined the conveyancing ranks compared to another 2,339 women.

Fast forward to 2024 and, as the table shows, the number of female conveyancers stands at 17,507 compared to 3,644 men in the sector.

§ The rise of women and eConveyancing

AIC VIC president Shakila Maclean said: “As a conveyancer, business owner, and President of the Australian Institute of Conveyancers (VIC), it’s exciting to see how the industry has evolved – especially when it comes to the rise of women in conveyancing.

“From 47% in the 1980s to more than 80% today, this shift is huge and really speaks to how the profession is changing.

“I think the introduction of eConveyancing has made the industry more dynamic and accessible to people from all walks of life.

“It’s amazing to see so many women now leading the way in the field, and I’m proud to be part of that shift.

“It’s clear that women bring a lot of passion, skill, and innovation to conveyancing, and I’m looking forward to seeing how this trend continues to shape the future of the profession.”

Figure: Growth of Male and Female conveyancers over the years

§ A career with avenues for growth

AIC Tasmania president Emmi Balmer said: “It is promising in such a prominent industry having such a high number of women leading the way.

“Conveyancing provides an opportunity for not just a job, but a career with many avenues for growth.”

§ Women’s leadership in conveyancing businesses

triSearch CEO Chris Gibbs said the numbers showed just how far the conveyancing industry had come since the 1980s when there was a slight male majority.

“These figures showing the dominance of women in conveyancing is testimony to the hard work, ingenuity, determination and leadership women have shown in setting up and making a success of their businesses,” he said.

“That’s certainly the overwhelming experience we have at triSearch with the community we work with.

“It’s great to see that the opportunities that exist, but also makes us focus on the fact we need to always do more.”