Total wages and salaries paid by employers increased by almost six percent in March, compared to the same time last year.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Head of Labour Statistics Sean Crick said employers paid out $104.8 billion in March this year, up 5.8 percent from $99 billion in March 2024.
Mr Crick said wages and salaries typically peaked in March, before falling in April, a seasonal pattern observed in previous years.
“Wages and salaries rose in March due to periodic bonuses paid within some industries, such as Mining, Wholesale trade and Financial and insurance services.”
He said comparing monthly estimates over a longer period, such as a quarter, could give a clearer view of underlying growth.
“Total wages and salaries paid by employers grew 1.1 percent across the March quarter 2025, similar to the growth seen in the same quarter in 2023 of 1.3 percent.
“March quarter growth in 2024 was lower at 0.3 percent, driven by the combined impact of extreme weather events on the east coast of Australia and relatively tighter labour market conditions.”
Mr Crick said total wages and salaries paid by employers grew in all 19 industries in the year to March.
He said annual growth ranged from +3.7 percent in the Mining industry to +11.9 percent in Electricity, gas, water and waste services.
“In dollar terms, the rises were greatest in the Health care and social assistance services industry (+$1.1 billion or +7.8 percent), Public administration and safety (+$0.6 billion or +8.1 percent), and Construction ($0.6 billion or +7.1 percent).”
