Earnings and working conditions

In the December quarter 2024:

• 69 disputes occurred.
• 25,200 employees were involved and 53,800 working days lost.
• disputes occurred in 8 industries and in 8 states and territories.

During the year ended December 2024, there were 194 disputes and a total of 139,100 working days lost.

Estimates for average weekly ordinary time earnings for full-time adults (seasonally adjusted):

• Increased by 4.6% annually to $1,975.80 in November 2024.
• For males were $2,253.30 (public), and $2,038.00 (private).
• For females were $2,027.20 (public), and $1,739.30 (private).

In December 2024, total wages and salaries paid by employers:

• decreased to $101,955 million
• decreased by 0.7% or $687 million in the month from November 2024
• increased by 5.7% or $5,539 million in the year from December 2023

In August 2024:

• 2.6 million employees did not have paid leave entitlements (22% of employees, and 18% of all employed).
• 20% of employees considered their job to be casual.
• 36% of employed people usually worked from home, down from 37% in Aug 2023.
• There were 1.1 million independent contractors (7.5% of all employed).
• 13.1% of employees (1.6 million) were trade union members in their main job, an increase on the 12.5% recorded in August 2022.
• Median employee earnings in main job was $1,396 per week, up $96 (7.4%) since August 2023.
• Median hourly earnings in main job was $40.00 per hour, up $0.30 since August 2023.

In August 2024:

• 13.1% of employees (1.6 million) were trade union members in their main job, an increase on the 12.5% recorded in August 2022.
• Trade union membership was slightly more common amongst women (14%) than men (12%).
• The Education and training industry (27%) and the Professionals occupation group (20%) had the highest rates of trade union membership.
• Since 1992, the proportion of employees who were trade union members has fallen from 40%.

In August 2024:

• 2.6 million employees did not have paid leave entitlements (22% of employees, and 18% of all employed).
• 20% of employees considered their job to be casual.
• 4.2% of employees were employed on a fixed-term contract.
• There were 1.1 million independent contractors (7.5% of all employed).
• 18% of employees didn't have minimum guaranteed hours, down from 21% in August 2022.
• 36% of employed people usually worked from home, down from 37% in Aug 2023.
• 56% of employees were entitled to employer provided paid parental leave.

In August 2024:

• Median employee earnings in main job was $1,396 per week, up $96 (7.4%) since August 2023.
• Median hourly earnings in main job was $40.00 per hour, up $0.30 since August 2023.

During 2021-22:

• Total personal income was $1.19 trillion
• Median personal income was $55,062, up 4.0% on 2020-21
• Employee income comprised 82.5% of total personal income