We look at the latest data from the ABS.
The median weekly earnings of employees rose by 2.3 per cent from August 2018 to August 2019, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
This increase, based on data collected with the Labour Force Survey, is consistent with increases observed in the Wage Price Index and Average Weekly Earnings.
Over the year to August 2019, the median weekly earnings of female
employees rose by 4.3 per cent, while male employee earnings rose 1.3
per cent.
Head of Labour Statistics at the ABS, Bjorn Jarvis, said: “Median weekly
earnings for male employees rose by less than that of female employees,
partly because of the growing number of males working part-time hours,
and the industries and occupations that men and women are working in.”
The figures also show gradual changes in working arrangements over time.
There was an increase in the proportion of employed people with access
to flexible working hours (34 per cent in August 2019, up from 32 per
cent in August 2015) and who regularly worked at home (32 per cent, up
from 30 per cent).
There was a decrease in the proportion of employed people who usually
worked overtime (34 per cent in August 2019, down from 36 per cent in
August 2015), or were on call or standby (22 per cent, down from 24 per
cent).
The Characteristics of Employment Survey is run each August, in
conjunction with the monthly Labour Force Survey. It collects
information on earnings, working arrangements and forms of employment
(including independent contracting), as well as trade union membership
and labour hire every second year.
