Member Login
THE FACTS: WAGES ARE GROWING
14 Nov 2018 | Archive
The ACTU is sowing confusion by claiming wages are staying low following the latest wage growth data.
The facts are the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported today that wages across Australia grew by 0.6% in the September quarter to be 2.3% higher than a year ago.
“Todays’ data shows there has been a trend lift in wage growth over the last 18 months or so,” said James Pearson, Chief Executive of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
“This is the fastest growth in three years. It’s another sign that weaker wage growth was brought about by a weak labour market. As things stand today we can look forward to a continuing pick-up in wage growth”.
“We would expect wage growth to continue to lift in line with recent falls in the unemployment rate as underemployment continues to decline.”
“Many small businesses and households are feeling the pinch. The best thing we can do to support wages growth is to support businesses to invest, to create new jobs and offer more hours of work.”
“Minimum and award wages increased by 3.5% this year, well in excess of inflation. This was the ninth straight annual increase above the rate of prices growth. Australia has the second highest minimum wage in the world.”
“Big unions imposing unaffordable wage rises on small businesses will kill jobs not create them”.