Payroll jobs and wages estimates, sourced from Single Touch Payroll (STP) data
Between the weeks ending 15 April 2023 and 13 May 2023:
On 21 June 2023, the ABS will release the first issue of the Monthly Employee Earnings Indicator. The new indicator is based on Single Touch Payroll data and will include movements and level estimates in wages and salaries paid by employers to employees. The first issue will relate to the calendar month reference period of April 2023.
In the month to 13 May 2023:
| Fortnight (%) | Month (%) | Year (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll jobs | 0.0 | 0.5 | 3.7 |
| Total wages | -1.5 | -2.4 | 8.6 |
Estimates of change 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 month to 13 May 2023, the largest changes in payroll jobs were:
| Fortnight (%) | Month (%) | Year (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 0.0 | 0.3 | 3.4 |
| Victoria | 0.1 | 0.5 | 3.3 |
| Queensland | -0.1 | 0.9 | 3.9 |
| South Australia | 0.3 | 0.1 | 4.1 |
| Western Australia | 0.2 | 0.4 | 5.2 |
| Tasmania | -0.2 | 0.1 | 3.2 |
| Northern Territory | -0.1 | 0.9 | 5.4 |
| Australian Capital Territory | -0.3 | 0.1 | 3.6 |
| Australia | 0.0 | 0.5 | 3.7 |
This map presents the percentage change in payroll jobs in the month up to 13 May 2023, by the state and territory of the jobholder's residential address.
In the month to 13 May 2023, the largest changes in total wages paid were:
| Fortnight (%) | Month (%) | Year (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | -1.8 | -3.0 | 8.5 |
| Victoria | -1.8 | -2.9 | 7.4 |
| Queensland | -0.8 | -1.3 | 9.3 |
| South Australia | -1.3 | -2.2 | 8.0 |
| Western Australia | -1.5 | -1.9 | 10.5 |
| Tasmania | -1.1 | -2.5 | 8.3 |
| Northern Territory | -1.0 | -0.4 | 9.4 |
| Australian Capital Territory | -0.3 | 0.3 | 8.0 |
| Australia | -1.5 | -2.4 | 8.6 |
The jobholder characteristic of sub-state geography is primarily sourced from the Client Register and as the snapshot ages, sees a higher proportion of unknowns than some other characteristics. State and territory level indexes are not affected by this issue as that characteristic is also sourced from STP data.
The current Client Register snapshot used to source sub-state geography was taken in mid-2021 and implemented in these estimates in February 2022. In mid-May 2023, the proportion of jobholders with unknown sub-state geography is around 5.7%. As such, the ABS recommends that care be exercised when using these indexes to make long term comparisons.
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 month up to 13 May 2023, by the GCCSA region of the jobholder's residential address.
The ACT only has one GCCSA region for the entire Territory.
In mid-May 2023, the proportion of jobholders with unknown sex has risen to 6.1%. These jobholders are not evenly distributed, hence this proportion differs across detailed indexes which include sex, and can affect comparisons over time. Indexes of persons aged 15-19 years old by sex are affected by a higher proportion of records with unknown sex than other age groups. For more information, see the Update of jobholder characteristics in the historical Methods review.
In mid-May 2023, the proportion of jobholders with unknown sex for the 15-19 year old age group is around 47%. Subsequently, indexes of persons aged 15-19 years old by sex have been withdrawn in this release (in Table 4 and Table 8 of the data downloads) until the sex characteristic is next updated in these estimates.
In the month to 13 May 2023, the largest changes in payroll jobs were:
| Fortnight (%) | Month (%) | Year (%) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sex | Males | -0.4 | -0.4 | -0.6 |
| Females | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.7 | |
| Age group (years) | 15-19 | -0.9 | 1.6 | 2.3 |
| 20-29 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 3.9 | |
| 30-39 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 4.0 | |
| 40-49 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 3.3 | |
| 50-59 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 2.6 | |
| 60-69 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 5.5 | |
| 70 and over | 1.1 | 2.0 | 7.4 | |
| All persons | 0.0 | 0.5 | 3.7 |
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 month to 13 May 2023, the largest changes in total wages paid were:
| Fortnight (%) | Month (%) | Year (%) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sex | Males | -2.2 | -3.1 | 6.4 |
| Females | -1.0 | -1.6 | 6.6 | |
| Age group (years) | 15-19 | 1.0 | -5.6 | 14.2 |
| 20-29 | -1.3 | -2.0 | 8.4 | |
| 30-39 | -1.6 | -2.3 | 8.4 | |
| 40-49 | -1.8 | -2.3 | 8.4 | |
| 50-59 | -1.9 | -2.7 | 7.7 | |
| 60-69 | -0.8 | -1.9 | 9.9 | |
| 70 and over | -0.2 | -1.5 | 11.2 | |
| All persons | -1.5 | -2.4 | 8.6 |
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 month to 13 May 2023, the largest changes in payroll jobs were:
| Fortnight (%) | Month (%) | Year (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | -0.8 | -1.4 | -4.9 |
| Mining | 0.3 | 0.3 | 9.6 |
| Manufacturing | -0.4 | -0.6 | 0.3 |
| Electricity, gas, water and waste services | -0.2 | 0.3 | 3.7 |
| Construction | -0.2 | -0.3 | 0.2 |
| Wholesale trade | -0.2 | -0.4 | 3.8 |
| Retail trade | -0.7 | -0.4 | 1.3 |
| Accommodation and food services | 0.1 | 0.7 | -2.0 |
| Transport, postal and warehousing | -0.3 | 1.0 | 2.6 |
| Information media and telecommunications | -0.8 | -1.7 | 3.0 |
| Financial and insurance services | -1.0 | -0.9 | 3.4 |
| Rental, hiring and real estate services | -0.1 | -0.2 | -0.2 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | -1.0 | -1.0 | 0.1 |
| Administrative and support services | -0.1 | 0.4 | 0.6 |
| Public administration and safety | 0.2 | 0.9 | 2.7 |
| Education and training | 3.1 | 3.9 | 3.9 |
| Health care and social assistance | 0.2 | 1.0 | 4.5 |
| Arts and recreation services | -0.2 | 2.0 | 9.9 |
| Other services | -0.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 |
| All industries | 0.0 | 0.5 | 3.7 |
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 month to 13 May 2023, the largest changes in total wages paid were:
| Fortnight (%) | Month (%) | Year (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | -0.7 | 0.0 | 4.3 |
| Mining | -3.0 | -3.1 | 16.5 |
| Manufacturing | -4.1 | -5.0 | 6.1 |
| Electricity, gas, water and waste services | -2.8 | -1.9 | 8.3 |
| Construction | -1.1 | -0.6 | 8.6 |
| Wholesale trade | -4.8 | -10.0 | 8.8 |
| Retail trade | -2.3 | -7.8 | 7.4 |
| Accommodation and food services | -4.3 | -6.0 | 0.2 |
| Transport, postal and warehousing | -3.1 | -3.9 | 10.3 |
| Information media and telecommunications | -3.5 | -3.6 | 8.2 |
| Financial and insurance services | -0.5 | -1.0 | 7.1 |
| Rental, hiring and real estate services | -0.6 | -0.5 | 3.7 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | -2.6 | -2.6 | 7.4 |
| Administrative and support services | 2.0 | 1.6 | 5.3 |
| Public administration and safety | -0.2 | 0.3 | 6.1 |
| Education and training | 2.7 | 2.4 | 8.0 |
| Health care and social assistance | -1.7 | -2.9 | 4.3 |
| Arts and recreation services | -1.1 | -2.4 | 14.4 |
| Other services | -1.4 | -0.2 | 7.0 |
| All industries | -1.5 | -2.4 | 8.6 |
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.
To learn more about the different labour measures available, their purpose and how to use them, see our Industry employment guide.
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.
This release presents percentage change between the weeks ending 15 April 2023 and:
1 April 2023, for fortnight
18 March 2023, for month
16 April 2022, for year
In the month to 15 April 2023, the largest changes in payroll jobs were:
| Fortnight (%) | Month (%) | Year (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-19 employees | -2.7 | -3.2 | 4.7 |
| 20-199 employees | -1.6 | -1.7 | 1.1 |
| 200 employees and over | -0.3 | -0.1 | 5.5 |
| All businesses | -1.2 | -1.3 | 4.3 |
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.
From the release of 11 May 2023, indexes of persons aged 15-19 years old by sex have been suspended. These estimates were previously available in Tables 4 and 8, but have been replaced with NA (not available) from this release onwards.
The following section was updated in this release:
Previously published articles and information of interest are linked below:
This release previously used catalogue number 6160.0.55.001.