Weekly Payroll Jobs and Wages in Australia

This is not the latest release View the latest release

Experimental weekly estimates on the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) on employee jobs and wages, sourced from Single Touch Payroll data

Cite
Print
Reference period
Week ending 27 June 2020
Released
14/07/2020
View all releases

Key statistics

Between the week ending 14 March 2020 (the week Australia recorded its 100th confirmed COVID-19 case) and the week ending 27 June 2020:

  • Payroll jobs decreased by 5.7%
  • Total wages paid decreased by 3.2%

Key findings

  1. Wages data are more sensitive to period-to-period changes in reporting than jobs data and are therefore subject to greater revisions over time. They are also subject to a greater degree of seasonality, including the potential impacts of end of financial year reporting. Please refer to the Methodology for further information.


Key COVID-19 dates:

  • 22 March: Prime Minister announces Stage 2 lock down changes, which are progressively implemented
  • 30 March: Prime Minister announces JobKeeper program
  • 8 May: Initial payroll deadline for the JobKeeper program
  • 8 May: Prime Minister announces RoadMap to a COVIDSafe Australia

Jobs and wages by state and territory

Since the week ending 14 March 2020 (the week Australia recorded its 100th confirmed COVID-19 case) the largest changes were:

  • Payroll jobs: Victoria decreased by 6.6% and the Australian Capital Territory decreased by 6.3%
  • Total wages: Western Australia decreased by 5.4% and New South Wales decreased by 4.1%
     

Table 1 - Percentage changes by states and territories (a)

 Change in payroll jobs between 20 June and 27 JuneChange in payroll jobs between 14 March and 27 JuneChange in total wages between 20 June and 27 JuneChange in total wages between 14 March and 27 June
NSW-0.3%-5.0%-1.0%-4.1%
Vic.-1.3%-6.6%-0.5%-2.5%
Qld-0.5%-5.2%-0.1%-1.2%
SA-0.6%-5.5%-0.6%-2.9%
WA-3.0%-6.2%-1.6%-5.4%
Tas.0.6%-5.9%-0.3%-3.6%
NT-2.5%-5.7%-1.4%-1.1%
ACT-1.2%-6.3%-1.1%-2.7%
Australia-1.0%-5.7%-0.7%-3.2%

a. Wages data are more sensitive to period-to-period changes in reporting than jobs data and are therefore subject to greater revisions over time. They are also subject to a greater degree of seasonality, including the potential impacts of end of financial year reporting. Please refer to the Methodology for further information.

Jobs and wages by sex

Since the week ending 14 March 2020 (the week Australia recorded its 100th confirmed COVID-19 case):

  • Payroll jobs: Those worked by females decreased by 6.0% and those worked by males decreased by 5.4%
  • Total wages: Payments to males decreased by 5.2% and payments to females decreased by 0.2%
     

Table 2 - Changes by sex (a)

 Change in payroll jobs between 20 June and 27 JuneChange in payroll jobs between 14 March and 27 JuneChange in total wages between 20 June and 27 JuneChange in total wages between 14 March and 27 June
Males-0.7%-5.4%-0.5%-5.2%
Females-1.4%-6.0%-1.1%-0.2%
All persons-1.0%-5.7%-0.7%-3.2%

a. Wages data are more sensitive to period-to-period changes in reporting than jobs data and are therefore subject to greater revisions over time. They are also subject to a greater degree of seasonality, including the potential impacts of end of financial year reporting. Please refer to the Methodology for further information.
 

Jobs and wages by age group

Since the week ending 14 March 2020 (the week Australia recorded its 100th confirmed COVID-19 case), the largest changes were:

  • Payroll jobs: Those worked by people aged 70 and over decreased by 8.7% and those worked by people aged 20-29 decreased by 8.6%
  • Total wages: Payments to people aged under 20 increased by 11.6% and payments to people aged 40-49 decreased by 4.6%
     

Table 3 - Changes by age group (a)

 Change in payroll jobs between 20 June and 27 JuneChange in payroll jobs between 14 March and 27 JuneChange in total wages between 20 June and 27 JuneChange in total wages between 14 March and 27 June
Aged under 202.8%-5.2%-0.5%11.6%
20-29 year olds-0.6%-8.6%-0.9%-3.3%
30-39 year olds-1.4%-5.0%-0.8%-3.9%
40-49 year olds-1.3%-3.9%-0.6%-4.6%
50-59 year olds-1.4%-3.9%-0.7%-3.1%
60-69 year olds-1.6%-5.8%-0.6%-1.6%
70 years and over-1.0%-8.7%0.0%2.8%
All persons-1.0%-5.7%-0.7%-3.2%

a. Wages data are more sensitive to period-to-period changes in reporting than jobs data and are therefore subject to greater revisions over time. They are also subject to a greater degree of seasonality, including the potential impacts of end of financial year reporting. Please refer to the Methodology for further information.

Jobs and wages by Industry

Since the week ending 14 March 2020 (the week Australia recorded its 100th confirmed COVID-19 case) the largest changes were:

  • Payroll jobs: Accommodation and Food Services decreased by 21.2% and Arts and Recreation Services decreased by 18.1%
  • Total wages : Accommodation and Food Services decreased by 17.9% and Mining decreased by 16.7%
     

Table 4 - Changes by Industry (a)

 Change in payroll jobs between 20 June and 27 JuneChange in payroll jobs between 14 March and 27 JuneChange in total wages between 20 June and 27 JuneChange in total wages between 14 March and 27 June
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing-0.4%-6.0%-1.9%0.0%
Mining0.6%-4.1%0.5%-16.7%
Manufacturing-0.3%-4.4%0.9%-4.4%
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services0.5%1.4%-0.4%1.8%
Construction0.1%-3.9%0.7%-2.1%
Wholesale Trade0.3%-4.1%2.0%-5.8%
Retail Trade0.3%-3.3%-3.3%-2.7%
Accommodation and Food Services0.4%-21.2%0.0%-17.9%
Transport, Postal and Warehousing-1.9%-6.1%-0.4%-7.2%
Information Media and Telecommunications0.1%-7.1%1.9%-0.1%
Financial and Insurance Services0.4%0.9%-0.4%-7.2%
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services-0.2%-7.7%-0.7%-6.9%
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services0.0%-3.9%-1.0%-2.7%
Administrative and Support Services-2.1%-6.9%-5.1%-6.9%
Public Administration and Safety-0.3%-0.9%-1.3%-1.1%
Education and Training0.0%-4.3%-1.1%3.9%
Health Care and Social Assistance (b)-5.3%-5.2%0.0%3.8%
Arts and Recreation Services1.8%-18.1%0.2%-6.2%
Other Services-0.8%-6.3%-4.7%3.3%
All Industries-1.0%-5.7%-0.7%-3.2%

a. Wages data are more sensitive to period-to-period changes in reporting than jobs data and are therefore subject to greater revisions over time. They are also subject to a greater degree of seasonality, including the potential impacts of end of financial year reporting. Please refer to the Methodology for further information.
b. The Healthcare and social assistance industry wages estimates in June may be subject to larger than usual revision in subsequent releases. Please refer to the Data Limitations and Related Revisions section of the Methodology for further information.
 

Jobs by Statistical Area 4 (SA4)

Jobs by Statistical Area 4 (SA4) estimates will be updated through to the week ending 11 July as part of the release on Tuesday 28 July.

Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4) time series estimates for the week ending 14 March 2020 through to the week ending 30 May 2020 (as released on 16 June 2020) are available below. The time series estimates are presented as index values and can be accessed via Table 4 in the Data downloads section.

A Jobs by SA4 - Interactive Map is also available. The map shows change in payroll jobs between the week ending 14 March 2020 (the week Australia recorded its 100th confirmed COVID-19 case) and the week ending 30 May 2020.

Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4) regions are specifically designed to reflect labour markets within each state and territory within population limits. In regional areas, SA4s tend to have lower populations (100,000 to 300,000), while in metropolitan areas, SA4s tend to have larger populations (300,000 to 500,000).

For more information, see the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS): Volume 1 – Main Structure and Greater Capital City Statistical Areas (cat. no. 1270.0.55.001).

Table 5 - Change in payroll jobs by region (a)

  Change between 14 March and 30 May (Change since 100th case of COVID-19)Change between 2 May and 30 May (monthly change)Change between 23 May and 30 May (weekly change)Change between 16 May and 23 May (weekly change)
New South Wales-7.0%1.6%0.7%0.1%
 Capital Region-7.2%1.6%0.7%0.0%
 Central Coast-5.1%1.9%0.8%0.3%
 Central West-4.0%2.7%0.8%1.0%
 Coffs Harbour - Grafton-6.7%2.7%1.0%0.3%
 Far West and Orana-7.6%1.3%0.5%0.3%
 Hunter Valley excluding Newcastle-4.7%1.8%0.8%0.4%
 Illawarra-5.1%2.4%0.7%-0.1%
 Mid North Coast-5.8%2.8%1.3%0.3%
 Murray-7.4%1.0%-0.2%0.6%
 New England and North West-4.9%2.4%1.0%0.1%
 Newcastle and Lake Macquarie-4.8%2.4%0.8%0.3%
 Richmond - Tweed-8.6%1.0%0.3%0.0%
 Riverina-6.1%2.1%0.8%0.3%
 Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven-6.5%2.3%0.6%-1.1%
 Sydney - Baulkham Hills and Hawkesbury-4.8%1.7%0.9%0.0%
 Sydney - Blacktown-5.1%1.3%0.8%0.3%
 Sydney - City and Inner South-10.6%0.4%0.5%-0.2%
 Sydney - Eastern Suburbs-8.4%1.1%0.8%0.0%
 Sydney - Inner South West-8.2%0.5%0.5%0.1%
 Sydney - Inner West-7.1%1.0%0.6%0.2%
 Sydney - North Sydney and Hornsby-5.9%1.1%0.8%-0.1%
 Sydney - Northern Beaches-7.2%1.6%0.7%0.0%
 Sydney - Outer South West-5.0%1.5%0.8%0.3%
 Sydney - Outer West and Blue Mountains-5.3%1.9%0.9%0.0%
 Sydney - Parramatta-7.1%0.6%0.4%0.1%
 Sydney - Ryde-6.2%1.1%0.6%0.0%
 Sydney - South West-6.4%0.7%0.6%0.3%
 Sydney -  Sutherland-4.8%2.4%1.0%0.2%
Victoria-9.0%-0.4%0.1%-0.1%
 Ballarat-7.3%0.3%1.0%-0.5%
 Bendigo-8.1%-0.3%0.4%-0.5%
 Geelong-7.9%0.1%0.5%-0.4%
 Hume-6.8%1.0%0.4%0.2%
 Latrobe - Gippsland-8.1%0.3%-0.3%0.1%
 Melbourne - Inner-10.6%-1.0%0.1%-0.3%
 Melbourne - Inner East-8.0%-0.7%0.0%-0.2%
 Melbourne - Inner South-7.5%0.1%0.6%-0.2%
 Melbourne - North East-9.0%-1.8%-0.9%-0.2%
 Melbourne - North West-9.4%-1.4%-1.0%-0.2%
 Melbourne - Outer East-6.8%0.4%0.6%-0.3%
 Melbourne - South East-7.4%-0.2%0.3%0.0%
 Melbourne - West-8.4%-0.9%-0.3%-0.2%
 Mornington Peninsula-7.7%0.3%0.6%-0.1%
 North West-9.1%1.4%0.8%0.6%
 Shepparton-7.6%0.6%0.7%0.5%
 Warrnambool and South West-9.4%-2.4%0.2%-0.3%
Queensland-6.7%1.4%0.6%-0.2%
 Brisbane - East-5.4%1.5%0.5%0.0%
 Brisbane - North-5.4%1.0%0.4%-0.4%
 Brisbane - South-6.0%0.6%0.2%-0.4%
 Brisbane - West-5.0%1.3%0.4%-0.3%
 Brisbane Inner City-7.7%0.8%0.2%-0.6%
 Cairns-7.9%1.6%0.5%-0.1%
 Darling Downs - Maranoa-7.3%1.0%0.6%0.8%
 Central Queensland-5.8%0.8%1.1%-1.0%
 Gold Coast-8.8%1.4%0.5%-0.3%
 Ipswich-4.7%1.4%0.7%-0.3%
 Logan - Beaudesert-5.5%1.1%0.6%-0.2%
 Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday-5.5%0.8%1.1%-0.1%
 Moreton Bay - North-4.8%1.7%1.1%0.3%
 Moreton Bay - South-4.6%1.6%0.8%-0.5%
 Queensland - Outback-7.0%-1.5%-0.3%-1.0%
 Sunshine Coast-7.6%2.2%0.5%0.1%
 Toowoomba-5.5%1.2%0.5%-0.2%
 Townsville-5.8%1.5%0.4%-0.5%
 Wide Bay-6.1%1.4%0.5%-0.1%
South Australia-6.9%2.2%0.5%-0.2%
 Adelaide - Central and Hills-6.5%2.8%0.6%0.0%
 Adelaide - North-5.4%1.7%0.5%-0.6%
 Adelaide - South-6.1%2.2%0.6%-0.2%
 Adelaide - West-7.0%2.1%0.4%0.0%
 Barossa - Yorke - Mid North-7.9%1.6%0.2%0.5%
 South Australia - Outback-7.5%1.1%-0.2%0.1%
 South Australia - South East-8.0%1.9%0.8%-0.1%
Western Australia-6.5%1.4%0.2%0.3%
 Bunbury-7.9%2.2%0.2%0.4%
 Mandurah-6.0%2.2%0.5%0.1%
 Perth - Inner-8.5%0.6%0.2%0.2%
 Perth - North East-5.4%1.0%0.2%0.2%
 Perth - North West-5.5%1.5%0.3%0.3%
 Perth - South East-5.8%1.1%0.2%0.2%
 Perth - South West-5.4%1.4%0.2%0.2%
 Western Australia - Wheat Belt-7.9%1.1%-0.2%0.0%
 Western Australia - Outback (North)-6.3%-0.6%-0.7%0.4%
 Western Australia - Outback (South)-7.2%0.2%-0.5%0.2%
Tasmania-9.5%0.1%0.3%-0.1%
 Hobart-9.3%-0.3%0.3%-0.2%
 Launceston and North East-9.3%-0.5%0.2%-0.1%
 South East-10.5%-1.5%-0.5%-1.3%
 West and North West-7.7%2.3%0.9%0.7%
Northern Territory-5.7%1.5%-0.8%0.8%
 Darwin-5.6%1.5%-0.6%0.7%
 Northern Territory - Outback-5.9%0.7%-1.2%0.9%
Australian Capital Territory (b)-6.8%1.3%0.2%0.1%
Australia-7.5%1.0%0.4%0.0%

a. SA4 estimates are subject to a higher degree of reporting volatility and revisions than state and territory level estimates.
b. Australian Capital Territory estimates are state and territory level estimates, as there is only one SA4 in the ACT.

Jobs by Industry sub-division

Jobs by Industry sub-division estimates updated through to the week ending 27 June 2020 added to this release on Wednesday 15 July 2020.

The time series estimates for the week ending 14 March 2020 to the week ending 27 June 2020 are available via Table 4 in the Data downloads section, presented as index values.

The sub-division level is the second broadest grouping of industries within the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification. Industry sub-divisions are built up from the industry groups which, in turn, are built up from industry classes.

For more, information see the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (cat. no. 1292.0).

Table 6 - Changes by Industry and sub-division (a)

  Change between 14 March and 27 June (Change since 100th case of COVID-19)Change between 30 May and 27 June (monthly change)Change between 20 June and 27 June (weekly change)
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing-6.0%-0.6%-0.4%
 Agriculture-5.7%-0.8%-0.3%
 Aquaculture-4.3%-1.0%0.0%
 Forestry and Logging-0.7%0.5%-1.0%
 Fishing, Hunting and Trapping-10.3%-4.5%-0.8%
 Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Support Services-10.0%0.0%-0.6%
Mining-4.1%1.6%0.6%
 Coal Mining-1.5%1.5%-0.2%
 Oil and Gas Extraction (b)-2.3%25.2%1.7%
 Metal Ore Mining-7.8%-2.7%1.2%
 Non-metallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying1.3%1.3%0.8%
 Exploration and Other Mining Support Services-2.3%-0.5%-0.5%
Manufacturing-4.4%-0.2%-0.3%
 Food Product Manufacturing-6.6%-2.2%-2.9%
 Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing-15.9%0.4%-0.4%
 Textile, Leather, Clothing and Footwear Manufacturing-6.5%2.9%2.1%
 Wood Product Manufacturing-1.4%0.3%-0.1%
 Pulp, Paper and Converted Paper Product Manufacturing-11.7%-4.7%-1.2%
 Printing (including the reproduction of recorded media)-2.4%2.4%1.6%
 Petroleum and Coal Product Manufacturing-0.8%0.3%0.1%
 Basic Chemical and Chemical Product Manufacturing4.0%-0.5%-1.2%
 Polymer Product and Rubber Product Manufacturing-1.6%1.1%1.2%
 Non-metallic Mineral Product Manufacturing-4.6%1.0%1.0%
 Primary Metal and Metal Product Manufacturing-4.5%1.4%1.0%
 Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing-2.6%0.7%0.9%
 Transport Equipment Manufacturing-3.8%1.0%2.2%
 Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing-2.6%-0.1%-0.1%
 Furniture and Other Manufacturing-6.2%-1.8%-1.4%
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services1.4%1.5%0.5%
 Electricity Supply2.7%0.7%0.5%
 Gas Supply11.1%2.0%1.6%
 Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage Services-0.8%0.4%-0.9%
 Waste Collection, Treatment and Disposal Services0.5%3.6%1.5%
Construction-3.9%-0.4%0.1%
 Building Construction-2.8%0.0%0.4%
 Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction-6.4%-1.0%-0.8%
 Construction Services-3.6%-0.3%0.1%
Wholesale-4.1%-0.1%0.3%
 Basic Material Wholesaling-2.5%0.7%0.6%
 Machinery and Equipment Wholesaling-2.8%-1.2%0.5%
 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts Wholesaling-8.4%-3.5%-0.5%
 Grocery, Liquor and Tobacco Product Wholesaling-6.7%0.6%-0.2%
 Other Goods Wholesaling-5.2%1.7%0.5%
 Commission-based Wholesaling0.7%0.2%-0.7%
Retail Trade-3.3%1.6%0.3%
 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts Retailing-3.8%1.0%3.6%
 Fuel Retailing-1.6%-7.1%-6.7%
 Food Retailing-0.8%1.0%1.0%
 Other Store-based Retailing-4.2%2.4%-0.1%
 Non-store Retailing and Retail Commission Based Buying and/or Selling-9.0%1.5%-0.4%
Accommodation and Food Services-21.2%8.9%0.4%
 Accommodation-28.0%6.5%0.0%
 Food and Beverage Services-20.2%9.3%0.5%
Transport, Postal and Warehousing-6.1%-1.2%-1.9%
 Road Transport-5.9%-1.7%-3.0%
 Rail Transport-4.5%-5.0%-5.5%
 Water Transport (b)-17.3%-8.5%0.0%
 Air and Space Transport-9.2%-1.3%-0.3%
 Other Transport-19.3%5.4%-0.7%
 Postal and Courier Pick-up and Delivery Services-2.7%-0.3%-0.4%
 Transport Support Services-5.8%0.7%-0.2%
 Warehousing and Storage Services (b)-4.7%1.0%0.5%
Information, Media and Telecommunications-7.1%3.9%0.1%
 Publishing (except internet and music publishing)-5.0%2.0%1.1%
 Motion Picture and Sound Recording Activities-24.3%2.9%2.6%
 Broadcasting (except internet)-5.6%0.5%0.7%
 Internet Publishing and Broadcasting-2.6%-1.2%0.6%
 Telecommunications Services0.7%12.0%-0.3%
 Internet Service Providers, Web Search Portals and Data Processing Services (b)-13.5%-9.6%-5.3%
 Library and Other Information Services-1.2%1.7%0.1%
Financial and Insurance Services0.9%0.2%0.4%
 Finance0.9%1.3%0.9%
 Insurance and Superannuation Funds0.8%-0.2%-0.1%
 Auxiliary Finance and Insurance Services0.9%-1.0%0.1%
Rental, Hiring and Leasing Services-7.7%0.8%-0.2%
 Rental and Hiring Services (except real estate)-8.5%0.0%-2.0%
 Property Operators and Real Estate Services-7.3%1.1%0.7%
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services-3.9%-0.8%0.0%
 Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (except computer system design and related services)-3.9%-0.2%0.0%
 Computer System Design and Related Services-3.8%-2.8%0.2%
Administrative and Support Services-6.9%0.3%-2.1%
 Administrative Services-8.0%-0.5%-2.7%
 Building Cleaning, Pest Control and Other Support Services-1.3%4.1%0.6%
Public Administration and Safety-0.9%2.4%-0.3%
 Public Administration-0.9%2.8%-0.5%
 Public Order, Safety and Regulatory Services-1.2%1.4%0.1%
Education and Training-4.3%0.0%0.0%
 Preschool and School Education-2.2%3.3%1.3%
 Tertiary Education-4.0%-1.5%-2.4%
 Adult, Community and Other Education-18.4%-14.6%0.3%
Health Care and Social Assistance (c)-5.2%-2.7%-5.3%
 Hospitals-8.7%-4.2%-9.1%
 Medical and Other Health Care Services-5.8%-2.3%-2.4%
 Residential Care Services-0.3%-2.4%-3.9%
 Social Assistance Services-3.7%-1.7%-3.9%
Arts and Recreation Services-18.1%10.2%1.8%
 Heritage Activities-3.6%3.5%0.3%
 Creative and Performing Arts Activities-28.0%3.1%0.4%
 Sports and Recreation Activities-21.4%14.4%2.6%
 Gambling Activities-6.2%4.9%0.8%
Other Services-6.3%1.3%-0.8%
 Repair and Maintenance-3.2%0.3%1.0%
 Personal and Other Services-7.9%1.8%-1.7%
 Private Households Employing Staff and Undifferentiated Goods and Service Producing Activities of Household for Own Use (b)6.8%-4.1%0.9%
All Industries-5.7%0.5%-1.0%

a. Industry subdivision level estimates are subject to a higher degree of reporting volatility and revisions than industry division level estimates.
b. Particular care should be exercised in using this estimate, which is expected to be subject to high degree of revision in the next release.
c. The Health care and social assistance industry estimates in June may be subject to larger than usual revisions in subsequent releases. Please refer to the Data Limitations and Related Revisions section of the Methodology for further information.

Data downloads

I-note

These downloads are currently available in an Excel file format that may not be accessible for users of assistive devices, such as screen readers. Contact us and we can discuss the best way to meet your needs.

Table 1: National spotlight

Data files
Download xlsx [82.93 KB]

Table 2: State and territory spotlight

Data files
Download xlsx [354.67 KB]

Table 3: Industry spotlight

Data files
Download xlsx [636.54 KB]

Table 4: Payroll jobs and wages indices

Data files
Download xlsx [2.56 MB]

History of changes

Show all

15/07/2020 - Updated Jobs by Industry Sub-division estimates added

Methodology

Weekly Payroll Jobs and Wages in Australia methodology, Week ending 27 June 2020

Media releases