Monday, 12 August 2019

Wages growth still likely to be low

Wages growth modest

The latest wages growth figures are set to be released this week.

It seems likely that even in the best case scenario the nominal annual growth in wages will only be around 2½ per cent at best, and quite possibly lower at about +2.3 per cent.  

The median market forecast for the quarter is still only +0.5 per cent, with public sector wages growth now tracking at the lowest level in nearly two decades. 

I'll run the detailed charts and the sector, industry, and state level later in the week. 

It's tough for employees to get ahead when wages growth is low, and employment income is taxed so heavily. 

In the meantime, I discuss some of the causes of and possible solutions to low wages growth here: