The organisations joined together on Friday for equal pay day to highlight the inequalities between men and women.

It came as a new analysis showed while the ACT had the most narrow gender pay gap in the nation men still earned, on average, 8.1 per cent more than women.

Women in the nation's capital would have to work an extra 32 days to earn the same as men did in one financial year, the Workplace Gender Equality Agency found.

Canberra's gender pay gap was almost half the Australian average of 14 per cent, where nationally it would take an extra 59 days for women to earn the same as men.

Equal pay day was marked on Friday, which was the 59-day point since the end of the financial year.

Western Australia had the highest gender pay gap at 22.7 per cent, followed by NSW and Queensland, both at 15.3 per cent.

Workplace Gender Equality Agency director Libby Lyons said, "In every state and territory of Australia, women are dealing with the consequences of pay gaps favouring men.

"That we still have a gender pay gap clearly shows that women and men do not have equal standing in the Australian workforce."

The ACT Council of Social Service, YWCA Canberra and the Women's Legal Centre ACT used the day to highlight the ongoing financial insecurity and gender pay gap experienced by women in Canberra.

ACTCOSS chief executive Emma Campbell said the gender pay gap was a reminder women were disproportionately responsible for unpaid care roles.

"We know that women's increasing participation in the workforce is concentrated in part-time work, which significantly reduces their income," she said.

"While participation in part-time work allows for flexible working, it reminds us that women are disproportionately responsible for caring in families.

"The cost and availability of childcare and the lack of support for carers are a major barrier to women's participation in employment."

YWCA Canberra chief executive Frances Crimmins urged the ACT government to take action on childcare reforms and lobby the federal government for equal pay for educators and to fund the extension of universal early childhood education.

Ms Crimmins also highlighted a long-term consequence of the gender pay gap was women retiring with little to no superannuation and fewer savings. She said this was a concern for women who accessed superannuation through the government's COVID-19 early release scheme.

"The short-term gender pay gap has significant, long-term consequences, in particular, women retiring with little or sometimes no superannuation and having much fewer savings to draw upon in times of crisis," she said

"This is especially concerning for young women accessing superannuation early through the Australian government's COVID-19 early release of super scheme."

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Of particular concern to women in Canberra was housing affordability.

"YWCA Canberra is acutely aware of the impact of the gender pay gap and women's poverty in Canberra; we deliver critical services, including housing for women no longer able to afford rent," Ms Crimmins said.

Dr Campbell said the gender pay gap impacted women's ability to access safe and secure housing, and it was one reason ACTCOSS had called for further investment in public and community housing.

"Canberra's housing affordability crisis disproportionately impacts older women, single mothers and women impacted by domestic and family violence," she said.

Women's Legal Centre ACT head of employment and discrimination practice Bethany Hender said the gap limited women's choices.

"While we measure it in cents, the impacts of the gender pay gap are profound and limit women's choices and options throughout their lives," she said.

"It can be a key reason women are more likely than their male partners to reduce their work hours, take time off or resign completely to attend to caring or domestic duties."

As well, Ms Hender said in some circumstances it prevented women from leaving an abusive relationship.

"We can see it in the high rate of poverty among women, particularly single parents," she said.

"It is a contributing factor to women's lower superannuation balance and is one of the reasons older women are the fastest growing cohort of homeless people in Australia today.

"In a country that believes in the equal ability of all its people and the value of safety and security for women, the enduring pay gap is an unacceptable obstacle to obtaining financial independence."

There have been warnings the gender pay gap could widen due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Workplace Gender Equality Agency said businesses should not lose sight of closing the pay gap.

Ms Lyons said, "I know many organisations are going through tough times because of the COVID-19 crisis, but Australian employers still have a really important role to play in closing the pay gap."