Australia’s seasonally adjusted Wage Price Index rose by 3.4% year-on-year in Q3 2025, unchanged from the previous quarter and in line with market expectations. Public sector wages increased by 3.8%, slightly above the 3.7% rise in Q2, while private sector wages grew by 3.2%, easing from 3.4% previously. In original terms, the electricity, gas, water & waste services industry and public administration recorded the strongest annual wage gains at 4.3% each. They were followed by healthcare and social assistance (3.8%), mining (3.6%), education and training (3.6%), construction (3.4%), rental, hiring, and real estate services (3.3%), and professional, scientific & technical services (3.3%). Healthcare and social assistance roles were the main contributors to quarterly wage growth. On a quarterly basis, overall wage prices rose by 0.8%, matching the previous quarter and aligning with market forecasts. source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Wages in Australia increased 3.40 percent in September of 2025 over the same month in the previous year. Wage Growth in Australia averaged 3.13 percent from 1998 until 2025, reaching an all time high of 4.30 percent in the second quarter of 2008 and a record low of 1.30 percent in the fourth quarter of 2020. This page provides - Australia Wage Growth- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. Australia Annual Change in Hourly Rates of Pay - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on February of 2026.

Wages in Australia increased 3.40 percent in September of 2025 over the same month in the previous year. Wage Growth in Australia is expected to be 3.20 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Australia Annual Change in Hourly Rates of Pay is projected to trend around 2.90 percent in 2027 and 2.70 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2025-11-19 12:30 AM
Wage Price Index YoY
Q3 3.4% 3.4% 3.4% 3.2%
2025-11-19 12:30 AM
Wage Price Index QoQ
Q3 0.8% 0.8% 0.8% 0.6%
2026-02-18 12:30 AM
Wage Price Index YoY
Q4 3.4% 3.4%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 14684.10 14618.90 Thousand Dec 2025
Employment Change 65175.00 -28676.00 Persons Dec 2025
Employment Rate 64.00 63.80 percent Dec 2025
Full Time Employment Chg 54791.00 -65230.00 Persons Dec 2025
Job Vacancies 326.70 327.20 Thousand Dec 2025
Participation Rate 66.70 66.60 percent Dec 2025
Labour Costs 107.50 106.10 points Sep 2025
Part Time Employment Chg 10384.00 36554.00 Persons Dec 2025
Population 27.40 26.97 Million Dec 2024
Productivity 99.90 99.80 points Sep 2025
Unemployed Persons 628.60 658.40 Thousand Dec 2025
Unemployment Rate 4.10 4.30 percent Dec 2025
Wage Price Index YoY 3.40 3.40 percent Sep 2025
Wages 1542.30 1510.90 AUD/Week Jun 2025
Wages in Manufacturing 1715.50 1740.70 AUD/Week Jun 2025
Youth Unemployment Rate 9.10 10.00 percent Dec 2025


Australia Annual Change in Hourly Rates of Pay
In Australia, wage growth measures the annual change in hourly rates of pay excluding bonuses for both public and private sector.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
3.40 3.40 4.30 1.30 1998 - 2025 percent Quarterly
SA

News Stream
Australia Wage Growth Meets Market Forecasts
Australia’s seasonally adjusted Wage Price Index rose by 3.4% year-on-year in Q3 2025, unchanged from the previous quarter and in line with market expectations. Public sector wages increased by 3.8%, slightly above the 3.7% rise in Q2, while private sector wages grew by 3.2%, easing from 3.4% previously. In original terms, the electricity, gas, water & waste services industry and public administration recorded the strongest annual wage gains at 4.3% each. They were followed by healthcare and social assistance (3.8%), mining (3.6%), education and training (3.6%), construction (3.4%), rental, hiring, and real estate services (3.3%), and professional, scientific & technical services (3.3%). Healthcare and social assistance roles were the main contributors to quarterly wage growth. On a quarterly basis, overall wage prices rose by 0.8%, matching the previous quarter and aligning with market forecasts.
2025-11-19
Australia Q2 Annual Wage Growth Beats Estimates
Australia's seasonally adjusted Wage Price Index rose by 3.4% yoy in Q2 2025, matching the previous quarter's pace and exceeding expectations of a 3.3% increase. An acceleration in both the public and private sectors drove the stronger-than-expected growth. Public sector wages surged by 4.7%, up from 3.6% in Q1, while private sector wages rose by 3.4%, compared to 3.3% previously. This marks a rebound for the private sector, which had recorded its weakest growth since Q2 2022 in the prior two quarters. In original terms, the electricity, gas, water, and waste services industry recorded the highest annual wage increase at 5.0%, followed by information media & telecommunications and healthcare & social assistance, which both rose by 3.9%. The main contributors to the quarterly wage growth were roles in professional, scientific, and technical services. On a quarterly basis, wage prices increased by 0.8%, down from a 0.9% gain in the previous quarter and in line with market forecasts.
2025-08-13
Australia Q1 Annual Wage Growth Beats Estimates
Australia's seasonally adjusted Wage Price Index rose by 3.4% year-over-year in Q1 2025, up from a 3.2% increase in Q4 2024 and above market expectations of a 3.2% gain. The latest figure marked a rebound from the previous quarter, which recorded the weakest wage growth since Q3 2022. The acceleration was driven by stronger wage growth in the public sector (3.6% vs 2.9% in Q4 2024), while private sector wage growth held steady at 3.3%—the lowest since Q2 2022. In original terms, the electricity, gas, water, and waste services industry posted the highest annual increase (4.4%), followed by education & training (3.8%) and healthcare & social assistance (3.8%). The main industry contributors to the quarterly rise were roles in healthcare and education & training. On a quarterly basis, wage prices climbed 0.9%, up from a 0.7% gain in the previous quarter and ahead of forecasts for a 0.8% increase.
2025-05-14