COMMENTARY
WAGE PRICE INDEXES
Australia/Sector (trend)
In the March quarter 2011, the Private sector wage price index rose by 0.9% compared to 0.8% for the Public sector, with the All sectors index recording a quarterly movement of 1.0%. This was the third consecutive quarter in which the Private sector quarterly movement was greater than that for the Public sector.
The Public sector movement for the year through to the March quarter 2011 (3.7%) is below that of the Private sector (4.0%) for the first time since the December quarter 2008.
State/Territory (original)
The highest quarterly All sectors movement (1.2%) was recorded by the Northern Territory and the lowest quarterly movement (0.6%) was recorded by both Queensland and South Australia. Through the year increases ranged from 3.5% for Tasmania to 4.2% for the Northern Territory.
In the Private sector, only Queensland recorded a lower quarterly increase in the March quarter 2011 than in the March quarter 2010. The lowest quarterly increase in the Private sector in the March quarter 2011 was jointly recorded by Queensland and Tasmania (0.6%). The highest quarterly increase was recorded by both New South Wales and Western Australia (1.0%).
Through the year movements in the Private sector ranged from 3.4% for Tasmania to 4.9% for the Northern Territory. In Victoria, the Private sector through the year movement to the March quarter 2011 was 4.0%. This was the first time since the December quarter 2008 that a through the year movement has been 4.0% or above for this state.
Quarterly movements in the Public sector in the March quarter 2011 were equal to or greater than those in the Private sector for all states and territories, with the exception of South Australia and Western Australia. In the Public sector, Tasmania recorded the highest quarterly movement of all states and territories in the March quarter 2011 (2.1%) and Queensland recorded the highest through the year movement (4.0%). Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia jointly recorded the lowest quarterly movement (0.6%) and the Northern Territory the lowest through the year movement (3.2%).
WPI - Annual and Quarterly changes: original, Total hourly rates of pay excluding bonuses
- Industry, March quarter 2011
Industry (original)
In the March quarter 2011, the highest All sectors quarterly movement was recorded by Education and training (1.6%) and the lowest quarterly movement was recorded by Administrative and support services (0.4%).
The All sectors through the year movements ranged from 3.1% for Rental, hiring and real estate services, Arts and recreation services and Other services, to 4.6% for Mining and Professional, scientific and technical services.
In the Private sector, Professional, scientific and technical services recorded the highest through the year movement to the March quarter 2011 (4.7%), and the lowest was recorded by both Rental, hiring and real estate services and Arts and recreation services (3.0%). All industries, with the exception of Education and training, recorded higher through the year movements to the March quarter 2011 than to the March quarter 2010.
In the Public sector, Education and training had both the highest quarterly and through the year movements to the March quarter 2011 (1.5% and 4.0%, respectively).
Quality Declaration 
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