Payroll jobs and wages estimates, sourced from Single Touch Payroll (STP) data
Between the weeks ending 29 January 2022 and 12 February 2022:
This release includes an update to jobholder characteristics, resulting in revisions to all sex, age and geography indexes. These revisions are greater in 2021 and impact component indexes differently. For more information, see the Update of jobholder characteristics section in Methods review.
The ABS recommends that analyses of previously published estimates be refreshed with updated data from this release.
This release sees higher than usual revisions in November 2021, as the 16 week imputation retention threshold passes through this period. These revisions mostly reflect the removal of previously imputed records, with the receipt of more complete data. Users should exercise caution when referring to estimates around this period.
In the fortnight to 12 February 2022:
| In the fortnight since 29 January 2022 | In the month since 15 January 2022 | In the year since 13 February 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll jobs | 0.8% | 2.8% | 1.8% |
| Total wages | 2.7% | 3.7% | 7.0% |
Estimates of changes throughout this release are calculated using un-rounded index values. They may be different from, but are more accurate than, movements obtained from the rounded index values.
All geographical areas in this release represent the residential address of the jobholder.
In the fortnight to 12 February 2022, the largest changes in payroll jobs were:
This map presents the percentage change in payroll jobs in the fortnight up to 12 February 2022, by the state and territory of the jobholder's residential address.
- New South Wales (0.9%)
- Victoria (1.0%)
- Queensland (0.1%)
- South Australia (1.4%)
- Western Australia (0.8%)
- Tasmania (0.9%)
- Northern Territory (2.0%)
- Australian Capital Territory (1.3%)
| In the fortnight since 29 January 2022 | In the month since 15 January 2022 | In the year since 13 February 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 0.9% | 3.3% | 0.2% |
| Victoria | 1.0% | 3.4% | 1.9% |
| Queensland | 0.1% | 1.9% | 2.4% |
| South Australia | 1.4% | 2.9% | 1.7% |
| Western Australia | 0.8% | 1.8% | 4.5% |
| Tasmania | 0.9% | 2.1% | 3.3% |
| Northern Territory | 2.0% | 3.6% | 2.8% |
| Australian Capital Territory | 1.3% | 3.0% | 2.9% |
| Australia | 0.8% | 2.8% | 1.8% |
In the fortnight to 12 February 2022, the largest changes in total wages paid were:
| In the fortnight since 29 January 2022 | In the month since 15 January 2022 | In the year since 13 February 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 3.6% | 4.7% | 5.8% |
| Victoria | 2.3% | 4.3% | 7.2% |
| Queensland | 1.8% | 2.5% | 7.3% |
| South Australia | 2.5% | 3.1% | 7.0% |
| Western Australia | 3.1% | 3.6% | 9.9% |
| Tasmania | 1.4% | 1.8% | 7.0% |
| Northern Territory | 1.8% | -12.9% | 6.0% |
| Australian Capital Territory | 1.9% | 3.3% | 7.2% |
| Australia | 2.7% | 3.7% | 7.0% |
Time series estimates of payroll jobs by sub-state regions (Statistical Area 4 (SA4), Statistical Area 3 (SA3) and Greater Capital City Area (GCCSA) regions) are presented as index values in Table 5 of the Data downloads.
For more information on the geography used in this release, see the Glossary.
This map presents the percentage change in payroll jobs in the fortnight up to 15 January 2022, by the GCCSA region of the jobholder's residential address.
- Greater Sydney (0.4%)
- Rest of New South Wales (1.5%)
- Greater Melbourne (0.9%)
- Rest of Victoria (1.0%)
- Greater Brisbane (0.1%)
- Rest of Queensland (0.1%)
- Greater Adelaide (1.4%)
- Rest of South Australia (0.9%)
- Greater Perth (0.7%)
- Rest of Western Australia (1.0%)
- Greater Hobart (1.0%)
- Rest of Tasmania (0.8%)
- Greater Darwin (1.8%)
- Rest of Northern Territory (2.1%)
- Australian Capital Territory (1.3%)
The ACT only has one GCCSA region for the entire Territory.
Persons aged 15-19 years old by sex indexes can be affected by a higher proportion of records with unknown sex than other age group indexes. For more information, see the Update of jobholder characteristics in the Methods review.
In the fortnight to 12 February 2022, the largest changes in payroll jobs were:
| In the fortnight since 29 January 2022 | In the month since 15 January 2022 | In the year since 13 February 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sex | Males | 0.3% | 2.0% | -0.4% |
| Females | 1.2% | 3.2% | 1.5% | |
| Age group (years) | 15-19 | 0.5% | 6.2% | 7.6% |
| 20-29 | 1.1% | 4.1% | 1.5% | |
| 30-39 | 0.6% | 2.0% | 0.9% | |
| 40-49 | 0.7% | 2.0% | 0.7% | |
| 50-59 | 0.7% | 2.0% | 1.4% | |
| 60-69 | 1.5% | 2.8% | 3.9% | |
| 70 and over | 2.8% | 4.2% | 5.0% | |
| All persons | 0.8% | 2.8% | 1.8% |
a. Persons with 'unknown' sex and age are only included in the calculation of All persons indexes. For more information, see Inclusion of unknown characteristics in How data are processed.
In the fortnight to 12 February 2022, the largest changes in total wages paid were:
| In the fortnight since 29 January 2022 | In the month since 15 January 2022 | In the year since 13 February 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sex | Males | 3.1% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Females | 2.1% | 2.9% | 8.2% | |
| Age group (years) | 15-19 | -3.0% | 3.7% | 20.3% |
| 20-29 | 2.1% | 5.4% | 8.4% | |
| 30-39 | 2.8% | 3.4% | 6.2% | |
| 40-49 | 3.3% | 3.7% | 5.6% | |
| 50-59 | 2.9% | 3.3% | 6.8% | |
| 60-69 | 2.5% | 2.7% | 9.4% | |
| 70 and over | 2.0% | 1.8% | 12.4% | |
| All persons | 2.7% | 3.7% | 7.0% |
a. Persons with 'unknown' sex and age are only included in the calculation of All persons indexes. For more information, see Inclusion of unknown characteristics in How data are processed.
Time series estimates of payroll jobs by 5 year age groups by sex are presented as index values in Table 8 of the Data downloads.
In the fortnight to 12 February 2022, the largest changes in payroll jobs were:
| In the fortnight since 29 January 2022 | In the month since 15 January 2022 | In the year since 13 February 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | -0.4% | -0.3% | -2.3% |
| Mining | 1.3% | 1.5% | 6.7% |
| Manufacturing | -0.2% | 2.2% | -2.2% |
| Electricity, gas, water and waste services | 0.1% | 0.2% | 1.4% |
| Construction | 0.5% | 4.1% | -2.5% |
| Wholesale trade | -0.3% | 0.3% | -0.5% |
| Retail trade | 0.2% | 0.8% | 1.6% |
| Accommodation and food services | -0.2% | 2.3% | -10.8% |
| Transport, postal and warehousing | 0.3% | 2.5% | -3.5% |
| Information media and telecommunications | 0.3% | 1.2% | 1.3% |
| Financial and insurance services | -0.6% | -0.1% | 3.0% |
| Rental, hiring and real estate services | -1.4% | -0.3% | -1.8% |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | -0.3% | 0.9% | 2.7% |
| Administrative and support services | 1.5% | 4.7% | 1.4% |
| Public administration and safety | 1.3% | 2.2% | 2.6% |
| Education and training | 7.4% | 11.9% | 1.4% |
| Health care and social assistance | 0.6% | 2.7% | 3.0% |
| Arts and recreation services | 1.3% | 5.0% | -0.9% |
| Other services | -0.7% | 1.5% | -5.9% |
| All industries | 0.8% | 2.8% | 1.8% |
Some industries experience pronounced seasonality in either payroll jobs and wages or both. For more information, see Seasonality in Data variability and revisions.
In the fortnight to 12 February 2022, the largest changes in total wages paid were:
| In the fortnight since 29 January 2022 | In the month since 15 January 2022 | In the year since 13 February 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 1.2% | -0.2% | 3.6% |
| Mining | 11.8% | 12.4% | 13.8% |
| Manufacturing | 4.6% | 6.1% | 1.9% |
| Electricity, gas, water and waste services | 2.6% | 4.0% | 5.7% |
| Construction | 5.1% | 7.9% | 1.9% |
| Wholesale trade | 5.0% | 5.1% | 3.9% |
| Retail trade | -0.4% | -3.2% | 3.9% |
| Accommodation and food services | -2.8% | 1.0% | -2.4% |
| Transport, postal and warehousing | 0.7% | 2.1% | 1.5% |
| Information media and telecommunications | 6.1% | 7.3% | 6.3% |
| Financial and insurance services | 1.2% | 1.2% | 2.9% |
| Rental, hiring and real estate services | -0.5% | -1.7% | 6.4% |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 4.9% | 5.5% | 9.5% |
| Administrative and support services | 4.1% | 7.1% | 7.4% |
| Public administration and safety | 2.7% | 0.8% | 8.5% |
| Education and training | 6.9% | 8.2% | 5.5% |
| Health care and social assistance | -2.4% | 0.2% | 8.0% |
| Arts and recreation services | -1.0% | 2.4% | 4.0% |
| Other services | -0.3% | 1.9% | 1.4% |
| All industries | 2.7% | 3.7% | 7.0% |
Time series estimates of payroll jobs by industry subdivision are presented as index values in Table 6 of the Data downloads. For more information on the industry classifications used in this release, see the Glossary.
Time series estimates of payroll jobs by private sector for selected industry divisions are presented as index values in Table 9 of the Data downloads. More information on the sector classification can be found in Updating characteristics variables in How data are processed and the Glossary.
The ABS has previously advised caution in using the most recent periods in payroll jobs by employment size indexes, which are subject to higher than usual revisions over a longer period - particularly for small employers. These indexes are more heavily influenced by changes in reporting behaviour and reporting obligations than other indexes, affecting the interpretation of underlying change in labour market conditions. To provide more stability at the end point of these series, a month lag in the reference week is in place.
In this release the latest week of data for these indexes is for the week ending 15 January 2022, which is also reflected in the percentage change estimates presented.
| In the fortnight since 1 January 2022 | In the month since 18 December 2021 | In the year since 16 January 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 20 employees | 3.5% | -7.4% | 5.5% |
| 20-199 employees | 3.6% | -5.2% | -2.1% |
| 200 employees and over | 0.3% | -4.4% | 1.4% |
| All businesses | 1.8% | -5.4% | 1.7% |
To aid in the interpretability of payroll job estimates, the following data download contains selected distributions of jobholder and employer characteristics by state and territory.
Records with 'unknown' characteristics have been excluded from the calculation of proportions. For more information on the source, impact and proportion of unknowns, see the Updating characteristic variables and Inclusion of unknown characteristics sections of How data are processed.
Contains selected distributions of jobholder and employer characteristics, available in this release since 9 September 2021.
Contains estimates of payroll jobs by 5 year age groups.
Contains estimates of payroll jobs by private sector for selected industry divisions, available in this release since 7 October 2021.
The following section was updated in this release:
The following sections of the Methodology have been updated in this release:
Methods review: new subsection on Update of jobholder characteristics
Methods review: Update of employer characteristics text integrated with How data are processed
Data variability and revisions: Impact of unknown sex subsection removed
As previously advised, the thematic groupings and navigation for labour statistics on the ABS website are being updated to better reflect the current range of available labour statistics, better align key labour market concepts with website themes and navigation, and improve discoverability. The new themes (and the statistical releases which will appear under each theme) can be viewed on our Beta website, at beta.abs.gov.au/statistics.html#labour.
The changes will be implemented on the ABS website on Friday 25 March 2022.
The new themes will be:
Weekly payroll jobs and wages statistics will move from the 'Earnings and work hours' theme (abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-work-hours/) to the new 'Jobs' theme (abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/jobs/).
The key changes to the current 'Employment and unemployment' and 'Earnings and work hours' themes include:
While these changes will result in a change to the placement of some statistical releases, and some URLs, there will be automatic redirects in place. These redirects will ensure that existing URLs and bookmarks will continue to work.
Payroll job outputs will be expanded over 2022, however the availability in specific releases is yet to be determined. In alphabetical order, the planned outputs are:
Previously published articles and information of interest are linked below:
This release previously used catalogue number 6160.0.55.001.