Weekly Payroll Jobs and Wages in Australia

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Payroll jobs and wages estimates, sourced from Single Touch Payroll (STP) data

Reference period
Week ending 3 July 2021
Released
22/07/2021

Key statistics

  • Payroll jobs decreased by 1.0% between the weeks ending 19 June and 3 July 2021.
  • Wages estimates have been withdrawn to allow for more complete business reporting and analysis of higher than usual variation in wages over the end of financial year period. 

Updated estimates of payroll jobs by both industry subdivision and sub-state regions are included in this release. Estimates of payroll jobs by Greater Capital City Statistical Area regions have also been added for the first time.

Suspension of wages estimates

Around the end of the financial year there is a greater variation in business reporting, as businesses finalise their employee's earning information and the financial year is reset in payroll systems. This variability in reporting makes the production of high quality wages indexes difficult. As a result, wages estimates have been withdrawn from this release, until more complete data is received for July.

Wages estimates throughout this release (in both tables and data downloads) have been replaced with 'not available' (na or NA) while these estimates remain withdrawn. 

Data download Tables 1, 2 and 3 have also been permanently withdrawn in this release. The retirement of these tables were planned as part of the transition to a monthly release frequency, but have been withdrawn earlier due to the suspension of wages estimates. Underlying payroll jobs data continue to be available in Table 4 of the Data downloads. 

National

    In the fortnight up to the week ending 3 July 2021:

    • Payroll jobs decreased by 1.0%, compared to an increase of 0.4% in the previous fortnight
    Table 1 - Percentage change in payroll jobs and wages (a)
    In the fortnight since 19 Jun 2021In the month since 5 Jun 2021In the year since 4 Jul 2020
    Payroll jobs-1.0%-0.6%6.0%
    Total wagesnanana
    1. Wages estimates have been withdrawn from this release. For more information, see Suspension of wages estimates.

    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.

    1. Care should be exercised when focusing on the most recent movements in estimates. For more information, see Data limitations and revisions
    2. Wages estimates have been withdrawn from this release. For more information, see Suspension of wages estimates.

    State and territory

    All geographical areas in this release represent the residential address of the jobholder. 

    The largest changes in states and territories in the fortnight up to the week ending 3 July 2021 were:

    Payroll jobs:

    • New South Wales decreased by 1.4%
    • Northern Territory decreased by 1.4%
    • Western Australia decreased by 1.1%
    Table 2 - Percentage change by states and territories
     Payroll jobs Total wages (a) 
     Change between 19 Jun 2021 and 3 Jul 2021 (b)Change between 14 Mar 2020 and 3 Jul 2021Change between 19 Jun 2021 and 3 Jul 2021 (b)Change between 14 Mar 2020 and 3 Jul 2021
    New South Wales-1.4%2.9%nana
    Victoria-0.5%1.9%nana
    Queensland-1.0%3.7%nana
    South Australia-0.5%5.0%nana
    Western Australia-1.1%5.8%nana
    Tasmania-0.1%2.9%nana
    Northern Territory-1.4%7.3%nana
    Australian Capital Territory-0.5%2.6%nana
    Australia-1.0%3.3%nana

    a. Wages estimates have been withdrawn from this release. For more information, see Suspension of wages estimates.
    b. Care should be exercised when focusing on the most recent movements in estimates. For more information, see Data limitations and revisions

    Map 1 - State and territory percentage change in payroll jobs, in the fortnight to 3 July 2021

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    This map presents the percentage change in payroll jobs in the fortnight up to 3 July 2021, by the state and territory of the jobholder's residential address. 

    - New South Wales (-1.4%)
    - Victoria (-0.5%)
    - Queensland (1.0%)
    - South Australia (-0.5%)
    - Western Australia (-1.1%)
    - Tasmania (-0.1%)
    - Northern Territory (-1.4%)
    - Australian Capital Territory (-0.5%)

    Sub-state - payroll jobs

    Time series estimates of payroll jobs by sub-state regions, Statistical Area 4 (SA4) and Statistical Area 3 (SA3), are presented as index values through to the week ending 3 July 2021 in Table 5 of the Data downloads. These estimates are only updated in alternate releases. 

    For more information on the geography used in this release, see the Glossary.

    Greater capital city statistical area regions - payroll jobs

    Time series estimates of payroll jobs by Greater Capital City Statistical Area (GCCSA) regions are available for the first time in this release, in Table 5A of the Data downloads. 

    Estimates of payroll jobs by Greater Capital City Statistical Area (GCCSA) regions will be available alongside future releases of sub-state region estimates. 

    See the Glossary for more information on GCCSA regions. 

    Map 2 - GCCSA regions percentage change in payroll jobs, in the fortnight to 3 July 2021

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    This map presents the percentage change in payroll jobs in the fortnight up to 3 July 2021, by the GCCSA region of the jobholder's residential address. 
    - Greater Sydney (-1.9%)
    - Rest of New South Wales (-0.4%)
    - Greater Melbourne (-0.8%)
    - Rest of Victoria (-0.1%)
    - Greater Brisbane (-1.3%)
    - Rest of Queensland (-0.7%)
    - Greater Adelaide (-0.7%)
    - Rest of South Australia (-0.1%)
    - Greater Perth (-1.1%)
    - Rest of Western Australia (-1.0%)
    - Greater Hobart (-0.4%)
    - Rest of Tasmania (0%)
    - Greater Darwin (-1.3%)
    - Rest of Northern Territory (-1.4%)
    - Australian Capital Territory (-0.5%)

    Footnotes

    The ACT only has one GCCSA region for the entire Territory.

    Sex

    In the fortnight up to the week ending 3 July 2021:

    Payroll jobs: 

    • Worked by males decreased by 1.2%
    • Worked by females decreased by 0.8%
    Table 3 - Percentage change by sex (a)
     Payroll jobs Total wages (b) 
     Change between 19 Jun 2021 and 3 Jul 2021 (c)Change between 14 Mar 2020 and 3 Jul 2021Change between 19 Jun 2021 and 3 Jul 2021 (c)Change between 14 Mar 2020 and 3 Jul 2021
    Males-1.2%0.6%nana
    Females-0.8%2.8%nana
    All persons-1.0%3.3%nana

    a. Persons with 'unknown' sex are only included in the calculation of All persons indexes. For more information, see Data components, totals and index calculation in Data limitations and revisions
    b. Wages estimates have been withdrawn from this release. For more information, see Suspension of wages estimates.
    c. Care should be exercised when focusing on the most recent movements in estimates. For more information, see Data limitations and revisions

    1. Care should be exercised when focusing on the most recent movements in payroll jobs. For more information, see Data limitations and revisions

    Age group

    The largest changes in age groups in the fortnight up to the week ending 3 July 2021 were:

    Payroll jobs: 

    • Worked by people aged 15-19 decreased by 1.6%
    • Worked by people aged 20-29 decreased by 1.3%
    Table 4 - Percentage change by age group
     Payroll jobs Total wages (a) 
     Change between 19 Jun 2021 and 3 Jul 2021 (b)Change between 14 Mar 2020 and 3 Jul 2021Change between 19 Jun 2021 and 3 Jul 2021 (b)Change between 14 Mar 2020 and 3 Jul 2021
    15-19 year olds-1.6%2.4%nana
    20-29 year olds-1.3%1.4%nana
    30-39 year olds-1.1%3.3%nana
    40-49 year olds-0.9%2.5%nana
    50-59 year olds-0.6%3.8%nana
    60-69 year olds-0.1%8.5%nana
    Aged 70 years and over0.1%11.3%nana
    All persons-1.0%3.3%nana

    a. Wages estimates have been withdrawn from this release. For more information, see Suspension of wages estimates.
    b. Care should be exercised when focusing on the most recent movements in estimates. For more information, see Data limitations and revisions

    5 year age groups

    Time series estimates of payroll jobs by 5 year age groups (presented as index values) up to the week ending 3 July 2021 are available in Table 8 of the Data downloads. 

    Industry

    The largest changes in industries in the fortnight up to the week ending 3 July 2021 were:

    Payroll jobs: 

    • Transport, postal and warehousing decreased by 3.0%
    • Professional, scientific and technical services decreased by 2.5%
    Table 5 - Percentage change by industry
     Payroll jobs (a) Total wages (a)(b) 
     Change between 19 Jun 2021 and 3 Jul 2021 (c)Change between 14 Mar 2020 and 3 Jul 2021Change between 19 Jun 2021 and 3 Jul 2021 (c)Change between 14 Mar 2020 and 3 Jul 2021
    Agriculture, forestry and fishing-0.6%4.8%nana
    Mining-1.2%-0.5%nana
    Manufacturing-1.8%-1.8%nana
    Electricity, gas, water and waste services-0.1%4.5%nana
    Construction-1.5%2.7%nana
    Wholesale trade-1.3%-1.2%nana
    Retail trade-0.1%2.4%nana
    Accommodation and food services-1.7%-3.5%nana
    Transport, postal and warehousing-3.0%-7.8%nana
    Information media and telecommunications-1.6%-7.5%nana
    Financial and insurance services0.0%9.9%nana
    Rental, hiring and real estate services-0.6%3.8%nana
    Professional, scientific and technical services-2.5%4.6%nana
    Administrative and support services-0.9%8.8%nana
    Public administration and safety0.8%12.0%nana
    Education and training-0.3%1.0%nana
    Health care and social assistance-0.7%7.9%nana
    Arts and recreation services-0.8%-0.6%nana
    Other services-1.4%6.5%nana
    All industries-1.0%3.3%nana

    a. Some industries experience pronounced seasonality in either payroll jobs and wages or both. For more information, see Seasonality in Data limitations and revisions.
    b. Wages estimates have been withdrawn from this release. For more information, see Suspension of wages estimates.
    c. Care should be exercised when focusing on the most recent movements in estimates. For more information, see Data limitations and revisions.

    Industry subdivision - Payroll jobs

    Time series estimates of payroll jobs by industry subdivision (presented as index values) up to the week ending 3 July 2021 are available in Table 6 of the Data downloads. These estimates are only updated in alternate releases. 

    For more information on the industry classifications used in this release, see the Glossary

    Employment size

    Recent movements in payroll jobs by employment size are subject to higher than usual levels of revision (over a longer period) than other estimates. This is particularly the case for small employers (with under 20 employees). Further information is presented on the impact of revisions on the small employers index, in Variation in revisions in Data limitations and revisions.

    Table 6 - Percentage change in payroll jobs by employment size (a)
    Change between 19 Jun 2021 and 3 Jul 2021 (b)Change between 14 Mar 2020 and 3 Jul 2021 (c)
    Under 20 employees-0.7%5.1%
    20-199 employees-1.2%5.7%
    200 employees and over-1.1%1.2%
    All businesses-1.0%3.3%
    1. Records with 'unknown' employment size are only included in the calculation of All businesses indexes. For more information, see Data components, totals and index calculation in Data limitations and revisions
    2. Care should be exercised when focusing on the most recent movements in payroll jobs. For more information, see Data limitations and revisions
    3. Care should be exercised when referring to change in employment size pre and post characteristics update. For more information, see Update of employer characteristics in Methods review

    Data downloads

    Table 1: National spotlight

    This table has been withdrawn, see Suspension of wages estimates for further information.

    Table 2: State and territory spotlight

    This table has been withdrawn, see Suspension of wages estimates for further information.

    Table 3: Industry spotlight

    This table has been withdrawn, see Suspension of wages estimates for further information.

    Table 4: Payroll jobs and wages indexes

    Wages estimates within this download have been withdrawn. See Suspension of wages estimates for further information. 

    Table 5: Sub-state - Payroll jobs indexes

    These estimates were updated to the week ending 3 July 2021 on Thursday 22 July 2021. 

    Table 5a: Greater Capital City Statistical Area (GCCSA) regions - Payroll jobs indexes

    New estimates in this release, now available in the same release pattern as sub-state region estimates.  

    Table 6: Industry subdivision - Payroll jobs indexes

    These estimates are updated in alternate releases. They were updated to the week ending 3 July 2021 on Thursday 22 July 2021.

    Table 7: Employer characteristics - Payroll jobs index

    Contains estimates of payroll jobs by employment size, including state and territory dimension. 

    Table 8: Jobholder characteristics - Payroll jobs index

    Contains estimates of payroll jobs by 5 year age groups. 

    All data cubes

    Changes in this release

    The following section was updated in this release:

    • Withdrawal of Data downloads: Tables 1, 2 and 3 will no longer be included in this release
    • New data download: inclusion of Greater Capital City Statistical Area (GCCSA) region estimates, in Table 5a of the Data downloads

    The following sections of the Methodology were updated in this release:

    • Data limitations and revisions: new subsection added on end of financial year reporting

     

    Upcoming changes to this release

    The transition of the Weekly Payroll Jobs and Wages in Australia to a monthly frequency has been delayed, due to the unfolding pandemic situation around the country. In line with our rapid response capability, fortnightly releases have been continued to prioritise timeliness of estimates surrounding changing COVID19 circumstances. 

    The last fortnightly release with a 19-day lag will be for the week ending 17 July 2021, to be released Thursday 5 August.

    An additional 'fortnightly' release with a 26-day lag will be released on Thursday 26 August for the week ending 31 July 2021.

    First monthly release

    The first monthly release, for the week ending 14 August 2021 is scheduled for 9 September 2021. Weekly estimates will continue to be available back to 4 January 2020. 

    The time between the reference week and the release date will be extended by around 9 days, to deliver a 26-day lag in the compilation of estimates. This allows for more complete business reporting and a reduction in the level of imputation in the most recent weeks of data, improving the quality of estimates and reducing subsequent revision. 

    In addition to quality improvements, the frequency change will also enable an expansion of outputs which will be detailed in a future release. 

    The first monthly release would have also seen the retirement of Data download tables 1, 2 and 3. However, the suspension of wages estimates in this release has resulted in their early withdrawal. Underlying payroll jobs data continue to be available in Table 4 of the Data downloads. 

    For more information, please contact labour.statistics@abs.gov.au.

    Previous articles

    Previously published articles and information of interest are linked below:

    Previous catalogue number

    This release previously used catalogue number 6160.0.55.001.

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