1367.5 - Western Australian Statistical Indicators, Jun 2009  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 22/07/2009   
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Contents >> Prices >> Wage Price Index

WAGE PRICE INDEX

  • In the March quarter 2009, Western Australia's Wage Price Index (WPI) increased 0.8%, considerably less than in the three previous quarters (1.4%, 1.3% and 1.8%).
  • The State's 'all sector' WPI rise of 0.8% was slightly higher than the national rise of 0.7% and on par with the rise in New South Wales, Tasmania and the Northern Territory. The Australian Capital Territory had the largest increase of 1.1%.
  • Through the year to March 2009, Western Australia's WPI grew 5.4%. The state's annual increase to March 2009 was considerably higher than the national annual increase of 4.1%.
Wage price index, Change from same quarter previous year
Graph: WAGE PRICE INDEX, Change from same quarter previous year

  • In the March quarter 2009, wages rose for both the private (0.7%) and the public sector (1.0%). This followed higher increases in the previous quarter of 1.4% and 3.1% in the private and public sector respectively.
  • Wages growth was recorded in various industries including construction (2.5%), education (1.4%), health and community services and retail trade (both 1.2%) in the March quarter.
  • Through the year to March 2009, construction had the strongest wage price growth (8.5%) followed by property and business services (6.5%) and education (6.3%).

2 Wage Price Index (a), Total Hourly Rates of Pay Excluding Bonuses: Original
Change from
Mar 08
Dec 08
Mar 09
Previous qtr
Same qtr
previous year
index
index
index
%
%
Western Australia
121.2
126.8
127.8
0.8
5.4
Sector
Private
121.9
127.4
128.3
0.7
5.3
Public
118.7
124.8
126.0
1.0
6.1
Selected Industries
Mining
127.6
133.9
134.6
0.5
5.5
Manufacturing
121.9
127.7
128.3
0.5
5.3
Construction
137.8
145.9
149.5
2.5
8.5
Retail trade
118.2
121.4
122.8
1.2
3.9
Accommodation, cafes & restaurants
116.4
120.4
120.6
0.2
3.6
Transport and storage
118.1
124.5
125.2
0.6
6.0
Property & business services
120.6
128.2
128.4
0.2
6.5
Govt admin & defence
118.8
124.9
125.2
0.2
5.4
Education
118.4
124.1
125.8
1.4
6.3
Health & community services
117.8
122.4
123.9
1.2
5.2
Personal & other services
122.1
127.9
128.6
0.5
5.3
(a) Base of each index: 2003-04 = 100.0.
Source: ABS data available on request, Labour Price Index, Australia, cat. no. 6345.0.


To view Excel spreadsheet: Labour Price Index





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