At the beginning of the war about a quarter of Australian women participated in paid employment. Working women were almost wholly confined to 'women's work' during the war. They continued to be employed as domestic help and as waitresses, and increasingly undertook factory work, generally linked to the manufacture of clothing or footwear. Others worked as professionals or in business. Professional women were mainly confined to the 'caring professions', principally teaching, nursing and a few as doctors, and in business, women worked as typists, telephonists and clerks. 

While some women also worked in 'men’s jobs', generally this was frowned on, particularly by Trade Unions, organizations representing workers.  They believed that the lower wages paid to women would reduce the wages of returning soldiers, fearing that returning Diggers would be permanently locked out of employment once the war was over.

Ironically, despite the fact that some women found themselves as the sole breadwinner after the death of or significant injury sustained by their husband during the war, finding work and finding a decent salary was extremely challenging.