The 'Trends in Federal Enterprise Bargaining' report for January-March 2017 was released by the Department of Employment yesterday.
This data is a valuable tool for benchmarking during any enterprise agreement negotiations you have coming up.
The latest report reveals that:
- Across the country, Victoria again recorded the highest average annual wages increase (AAWI) with 3.2% for the quarter, compared to Western Australia with the lowest at 1.9%.
- The mining and construction industries had the largest drops in AAWI this quarter (0.9% and 1.0% respectively). However, while mining is now the industry with the lowest AAWI (at 1.4%), construction remained the industry with the highest annual wage growth at 4.2%.
- As a general trend, wage growth continues to slide across both the private and public sectors when comparing enterprise agreements approved during the March 2017 quarter with both the last quarter (December 2016) and the same quarter last year (March 2016).
Table 7 of the report is particularly useful, showing the average annual percentage wage increase by industry for enterprise agreements approved during the March 2017 quarter.
- For the manufacturing industry, the average annual wage increase was 2.4% - 0.4% down from the previous quarter.
- For the mining industry, the average annual wage increase was 1.4% - 0.9% down from the previous quarter.
- For the construction industry, the average annual wage increase was 4.2% - 1.0% down from the previous quarter.
- For the electricity, gas, water and waste services industries, the average annual wage increase was 3.5% - up half a percent from the previous quarter.
- For the retail industry, the average annual wage increase was 2.4% - 0.3% down from the previous quarter.
- For the transport, postal and warehousing industries, the average annual wage increase was 2.7% - 0.3% down from the previous quarter.
- For the administrative and support services industries, the average annual wage increase was 2.7% - 0.4% up from the previous quarter.
- For the financial and insurance services industries, the average annual wage increase was 2.3% - down half a percent from the previous quarter.
- For the information, media and telecommunications services industries, the average wage increase was 2.1% - 0.1% up from the previous quarter.
Click here to see the June 2017 data.
This article was written by Courtney Ford, Senior Associate / Professional Support Lawyer. Please contact a member of Herbert Smith Freehills' specialist bargaining team if you would like to discuss this topic:
Disclaimer
The articles published on this website, current at the dates of publication set out above, are for reference purposes only. They do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. Specific legal advice about your specific circumstances should always be sought separately before taking any action.