6310.0 - Employee Earnings, Benefits and Trade Union Membership, Australia, Aug 2002  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 31/03/2003   
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MEAN WEEKLY EARNINGS OF EMPLOYEES

The mean (average) weekly earnings of employees in all jobs was $707 in August 2002. This was an increase of 3% ($20) since August 2001. The median weekly earnings was $625 in August 2002 (the median is the amount which divides the distribution of employees into two equal groups, one having earnings above and the other below that amount).

Mean weekly earnings of employees in all jobs have increased from $475 in August 1992 to $707 in August 2002, an increase of almost 50% over the decade. Changes in average earnings may be affected not only by changes in the level of earnings but also by changes in the overall composition of the employee workforce, including changes in the proportions of full-time and part-time employees and in the mix of occupations and industries.

Full-time workers who were employees in their main job earned, on average, $863 per week in all their jobs, an increase of 3% since August 2001. Mean weekly earnings were $921 for male full-time workers and $760 for female full-time workers in August 2002.

Part-time workers who were employees in their main job earned, on average, $320 per week in all jobs in August 2002, an increase of 4% since August 2001. Mean weekly earnings were $308 for male part-time workers and $325 for female part-time workers.


EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

In August 2002, 92% of employees were entitled to one or more of the standard benefits in their main job. Those employed in the public sector were more likely to have employment benefits than employees in the private sector (98% and 90% respectively).

The most commonly reported employment benefits were superannuation (90% of employees), paid sick leave (72%), paid holiday leave (71%) and long service leave (63%). Entitlement to paid maternity or paternity leave was reported by 24% of employees (30% of female and 19% of male employees).


EMPLOYEES WITH LEAVE ENTITLEMENTS

In August 2002, 73% of employees were entitled to either paid sick leave or paid holiday leave (or both) in their main job, which was the same proportion as in both August 2001 and 2000. A higher proportion of full-time employees (87%) had paid leave entitlements compared with part-time employees (40%). Of the employees without paid leave entitlements: two thirds (66%) were part-time employees in their main job; 54% were female; and 19% were aged 15 to 19 years, and 15% were 20 to 24 years.

EMPLOYEES IN MAIN JOB
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001(a)
2002
'000
'000
'000
'000
'000
'000

With leave entitlements(b)
Full-time employees
4,517.4
4,596.0
4,631.5
4,803.9
4,784.0
4,832.4
Part-time employees
659.3
702.7
741.1
794.5
870.6
934.2
Total
5,176.6
5,298.7
5,372.5
5,598.3
5,654.6
5,766.7
Without leave entitlements
Full-time employees
538.4
617.5
576.6
647.3
729.6
734.8
Part-time employees
1,257.1
1,328.6
1,355.0
1,450.0
1,388.0
1,425.5
Total
1,795.5
1,946.1
1,931.7
2,097.3
2,117.6
2,160.3
Total
6,972.1
7,244.8
7,304.2
7,695.6
7,772.2
7,927.0

(a) 2001 estimates have been revised. See paragraphs 23-25 of the Explanatory Notes.
(b) Refers to the entitlement of employees to either paid holiday leave or paid sick leave in their main job.
Source: Weekly Earnings of Employees, August 1997 (cat. no. 6310.0); Employee Earnings, Benefits and Trade Union Membership, August 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 (cat. no. 6310.0).


TRADE UNION MEMBERSHIP

In August 2002, there were 1,833,700 employees who were members of a trade union in conjunction with their main job. This was a 4% decrease on the number recorded in August 2001. The proportion of employees who were trade union members fell from 24.5% in August 2001 to 23.1% in August 2002.

The proportion of full-time employees who were trade union members was higher than for part-time employees (26% and 17% respectively). A higher proportion of public sector employees were trade union members (47%) than private sector employees (18%).