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](/ausstats/abs@.nsf/7d12b0f6763c78caca257061001cc588/83fce8ccb6467ffaca2575fa001c8d8f/Body/0.4B2!OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=gif)
- 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 |
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![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | Change from
|
![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | Mar 08 | Dec 08 | Mar 09 | Previous qtr | Same qtr
previous year |
![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | index | index | index | % | % |
|
Western Australia | 121.2 | 126.8 | 127.8 | 0.8 | 5.4 |
Sector | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | Private | 121.9 | 127.4 | 128.3 | 0.7 | 5.3 |
![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | Public | 118.7 | 124.8 | 126.0 | 1.0 | 6.1 |
Selected Industries | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | Mining | 127.6 | 133.9 | 134.6 | 0.5 | 5.5 |
![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | Manufacturing | 121.9 | 127.7 | 128.3 | 0.5 | 5.3 |
![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | Construction | 137.8 | 145.9 | 149.5 | 2.5 | 8.5 |
![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | Retail trade | 118.2 | 121.4 | 122.8 | 1.2 | 3.9 |
![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | Accommodation, cafes & restaurants | 116.4 | 120.4 | 120.6 | 0.2 | 3.6 |
![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | Transport and storage | 118.1 | 124.5 | 125.2 | 0.6 | 6.0 |
![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | Property & business services | 120.6 | 128.2 | 128.4 | 0.2 | 6.5 |
![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | Govt admin & defence | 118.8 | 124.9 | 125.2 | 0.2 | 5.4 |
![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | Education | 118.4 | 124.1 | 125.8 | 1.4 | 6.3 |
![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | Health & community services | 117.8 | 122.4 | 123.9 | 1.2 | 5.2 |
![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | Personal & other services | 122.1 | 127.9 | 128.6 | 0.5 | 5.3 |
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(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