6345.0 - Labour Price Index, Australia, Mar 2012 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 16/05/2012   
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COMMENTARY


WAGE PRICE INDEXES

Australia/Sector (trend)

In the March quarter 2012, the Public sector wage price index rose 0.7%, slightly lower than the Private and All sectors wage price indexes which rose 0.9%.

The Public sector rise of 3.0% through the year to the March quarter 2012 was again below that of the Private sector (3.8%). This is the fifth consecutive quarter that the rise through the year for the Public sector was below that of the Private sector.


State/Territory (original)

Western Australia recorded the largest quarterly All sectors rise (1.5%) while the Northern Territory recorded the smallest (0.4%). With the exception of Western Australia (1.5%) and the Australian Capital Territory (1.1%), all states and territories recorded a quarterly rise that was the same as or smaller in the March quarter 2012 than in the March quarter 2011. Rises through the year ranged from 3.2% for Tasmania to 4.5% for Western Australia.

In the Private sector, the Northern Territory recorded the smallest quarterly rise of 0.4% while Western Australia recorded the largest (1.6%). Rises through the year in the Private sector ranged from 3.3% for Tasmania to 4.6% for Western Australia.

In the Public sector, the Australian Capital Territory recorded the largest quarterly rise of all states and territories (1.4%) while Queensland recorded the smallest quarterly rise (0.5%). South Australia, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory all recorded larger rises in the March quarter 2012, than in the March quarter 2011. In all other states and territories, the quarterly rise was smaller in the March quarter 2012 than in the March quarter 2011.

The largest through the year rise of all states and territories in the Public sector was recorded by Western Australia (4.0%) while Victoria recorded the smallest (2.4%).


Industry (original)

WPI - Annual and Quarterly changes: original, Total hourly rates of pay excluding bonuses - Industry, March quarter 2012
Graph: WPI—Annual and Quarterly changes: original, Total hourly rates of pay excluding bonuses—Industry, March quarter 2012


In the March quarter 2012, Mining (2.2%) recorded the largest quarterly rise for All sectors. The smallest rise for All sectors in the March quarter 2012 was 0.2%, recorded by Accommodation and food services; Information media and telecommunications; and Arts and recreation services. The largest All sectors through the year rise of 4.6% was recorded by Mining. The smallest All sectors through the year rise of 3.0% was recorded by Retail trade; Public administration and safety; and Health care and social assistance.

Mining recorded the largest quarterly rise in the Private sector of 2.2%. The smallest Private sector quarterly rise (0.1%) was recorded by Accommodation and food services; Information media and telecommunications; and Public administration and safety.

In the Public sector, Education and training had the largest quarterly rise (1.3%) while Professional, scientific and technical services; and Health care and social assistance had the smallest (0.4%).