6345.0 - Wage Price Index, Australia, Sep 2012 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 14/11/2012   
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COMMENTARY


WAGE PRICE INDEXES

Australia/Sector (trend)

In the September quarter 2012, the Public sector, Private sector and All sectors wage price indexes rose 0.9%.

The Public sector rise of 3.3% through the year to the September quarter 2012 was below that of the Private sector (3.8%). Private sector wages continue to show stronger growth than the Public sector.


State/Territory (original)

All states and territories recorded quarterly All sector rises of 1.0% or larger in the September quarter 2012.

In the Private sector, Tasmania recorded the largest quarterly rise of 1.8%. Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory recorded the smallest quarterly rise of 1.0%. Western Australia continued to show the largest rise through the year of all states and territories (4.6%). The Australian Capital Territory recorded the smallest through the year rise of 3.0%.

In the Public sector, the Australian Capital Territory showed the largest quarterly and through the year rise to the September quarter 2012 (1.9% and 5.0%, respectively). The large through the year rise to the September quarter 2012 reflects the change in timing of pay increases due to the introduction of new Enterprise Agreements for some Australian Government agencies during the year.


Industry (original)

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


Professional, scientific and technical services recorded the largest quarterly All sectors rise (1.8%) in the September quarter 2012. Financial and insurance services had the smallest (0.4%). The All sectors through the year rise to the September quarter 2012 ranged from 2.3% for Retail trade to 5.3% for Wholesale trade.

In the Private sector, Public administration and safety recorded the largest quarterly rise of 2.5%. The smallest quarterly rise (0.3%) was recorded by Financial and insurance services. The national minimum wage decision by Fair Work Australia in 2012 was 2.9% compared to 3.4% in 2011. Retail trade and Accommodation and food services, industries where remuneration is commonly based on award rates, recorded smaller quarterly rises in the September quarter 2012 (0.9% and 1.7%, respectively) than in the September quarter 2011 (1.3% and 2.2%, respectively).

In the Public sector, Professional, scientific and technical services had the largest quarterly rise (2.4%), and Education and training the smallest (0.6%).