6345.0 - Wage Price Index, Australia, Sep 2015 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 18/11/2015   
   Page tools: Print Print Page Print all pages in this productPrint All


COMMENTARY


WAGE PRICE INDEXES

Australia/Sector (trend)

In the September quarter 2015, the Private sector index rose 0.5% and the Public sector rose 0.7%. The All sectors quarterly rise was 0.6%.

The Private sector through the year rise to the September quarter 2015 of 2.1% was smaller than the Public sector rise of 2.7%. Through the year, All sectors rose 2.3%.


Australia/Sector (seasonally adjusted)

In the September quarter 2015, the Private sector index rose 0.5%, smaller than the Public sector rise of 0.7%. The All sectors quarterly rise was 0.6%.

The Private sector through the year rise to the September quarter 2015 of 2.1% was smaller than the Public sector rise of 2.7%. Through the year, All sectors rose 2.3%. The through the year rise for the Private sector was the smallest rate of wages growth recorded since the start of the series. The through the year series commenced in the September quarter 1998.


Australia/Sector (original)

Wages rose 0.8% in the September quarter 2015 for All sectors. The Private sector rose 0.8% in the September quarter 2015, smaller than the Public sector rise of 1.0%.

The All sectors through the year rise was 2.3%. The Private sector rose 2.1% and the Public sector 2.7%.


State/Territory (original)

In the September quarter 2015, the largest quarterly rise of 1.0% was recorded by New South Wales and Tasmania while the Australian Capital Territory recorded the smallest quarterly rise of 0.5%.

Rises through the year ranged from 1.6% for the Australian Capital Territory, to 2.6% for Victoria.

In the Private sector, the quarterly rise for South Australia and Tasmania of 1.2% was the largest quarterly rise of all states and territories. The smallest quarterly rise of 0.5% was recorded by Western Australia. Rises through the year in the Private sector ranged from 1.6% for Western Australia to 2.4% for South Australia and Tasmania. For the first time since the start of the series Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory are recording through the year wages growth below 2.0%. Western Australia, for the third quarter in a row has recorded through the year wages growth below 2.0%.

In the Public sector, Western Australia recorded the largest quarterly rise of 1.5%, with Tasmania and Australian Capital Territory recording the smallest quarterly rise of 0.2%. Western Australia recorded the largest through the year Public sector rise of all states and territories, 4.0%. The stronger wages growth in Western Australia was mainly due to the timing of pay increases awarded under enterprise agreements. For the fifth consecutive quarter, the smallest through the year rise for the Public sector was recorded by the Australian Capital Territory (1.3%).


Industry (original)


Graph Image for Annual and Quarterly changes, Original, Total hourly rates of pay excluding bonuses - Industry


In the September quarter 2015, Accommodation and food services recorded the largest quarterly rise of all industries, 1.6%. Regular enterprise agreement increases and the Fair Work Commission increase to the national minimum wage contributed to this quarterly rise. The smallest quarterly rise for all industries of 0.2% was recorded by Financial and insurance services.

The national minimum wage increase granted by the Fair Work Commission in June 2015 was 2.5%. This increase to minimum wages flows through to the Wage Price Index in the September quarter 2015.

The All industries through the year rises for the September quarter 2015 ranged from 1.5% for Professional, scientific and technical services and Administrative and support services to 3.0% for Education and training.

In the Public sector, Public administration and safety recorded the largest quarterly rise of 1.3%. The smallest quarterly rise of 0.8% was recorded by Professional, scientific and technical services and Education and training. Rises through the year in the Public sector ranged from 1.7% for Professional, scientific and technical services to 3.5% for Education and training.