6302.0 - Average Weekly Earnings, Australia, Aug 2005  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 17/11/2005   
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KEY FIGURES

May 2005
August 2004
August 2005
to August 2005
to August 2005
TREND ESTIMATES
$
% change
% change
Private & public sectors
Full-time adult ordinary time earnings
1022.60
1.5
6.2
Full-time adult total earnings
1071.90
1.3
6.2
All employees total earnings
805.40
1.4
6.2
Private sector
Full-time adult ordinary time earnings
996.20
1.5
6.8
Full-time adult total earnings
1050.10
1.2
6.7
Public sector
Full-time adult ordinary time earnings
1112.20
1.4
4.6
Full-time adult total earnings
1147.10
1.4
4.6
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED ESTIMATES
Private & public sectors
Full-time adult ordinary time earnings
1022.00
1.3
6.3
Full-time adult total earnings
1069.30
0.8
5.9
All employees total earnings
804.90
1.4
6.1
Private sector
Full-time adult ordinary time earnings
993.80
1.0
6.8
Full-time adult total earnings
1045.70
0.5
6.3
Public sector
Full-time adult ordinary time earnings
1118.20
2.4
5.0
Full-time adult total earnings
1152.80
2.3
4.9

Graph - Full Time Adult Total Earnings, Quarterly percentage change in trend estimates, All Sectors
Graph - Full Time Adult Total Earnings, Quarterly percentage change in trend estimates, Private and Public


KEY POINTS


TREND ESTIMATES
  • Full-time adult ordinary time earnings rose by 6.3% for males and 5.9% for females in the twelve months to August 2005.
  • In the twelve months to August 2005, full-time adult total earnings rose by 6.4% for males and 5.7% for females.
  • Full-time adult ordinary time earnings for the private and public sectors rose by 6.8% and 4.6% respectively in the twelve months to August 2005.


NOTES

NOTES ON ESTIMATES

CONCURRENT SEASONAL ADJUSTMENT

The ABS has introduced concurrent seasonal adjustment to the Survey of Average Weekly Earnings (AWE), replacing the forward factor adjustment method previously used to produce seasonally adjusted estimates. Concurrent seasonal adjustment uses original data up to and including the current quarter to update seasonal factors each quarter, whereas the forward factor adjustment method only updates seasonal factors annually.

By increasing the frequency of seasonal reanalyses from annually to quarterly, concurrent seasonal adjustment produces initial seasonally adjusted estimates that are closer on average to their final values, as any changes in seasonality are picked up sooner. See paragraphs 27 to 30 of the Explanatory Notes for more information on the concurrent seasonal adjustment method.


COMPOSITIONAL EFFECTS

Movements in average weekly earnings can be affected by both changes in the level of earnings per employee and changes in the composition of the labour force. For example, changes in the proportions of full-time, part-time, casual and junior employees and variations in the distribution of occupations can affect movements in earnings series. Refer to paragraphs 18 and 19 of the Explanatory Notes.

SAMPLING ERROR

For information on sampling error refer to the Technical Note. Standard errors for the original estimates contained in this publication are in tables 18 to 20.

ABBREVIATIONS

ABNAustralian Business Number
ABSAustralian Bureau of Statistics
ANZSICAustralian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification
ATOAustralian Taxation Office
AWEaverage weekly earnings
GEgroup employer
PAYGWpay-as-you-go withholding
TAUtype of activity unit
WPIwage price index

INQUIRIES

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Manpreet Singh on Perth (08) 9360 5304.