LABOUR COSTS
The Australian mining industry paid $11.8b in wages and salaries in 2006-07. All industries for which data are shown incurred higher wages and salaries costs than in 2005-06. The 'core' mining industries of Coal mining, Oil and gas extraction and Metal ore mining recorded a 21% ($1.4b) increase in wages and salaries overall.
In percentage terms, the largest increases in wages and salaries occurred in Oil and gas extraction (up 26%), Exploration and other mining support services (up 26%) and Coal mining (up 21%).
The estimate of wages and salaries per person employed increased to $100,000 in 2006-07, up from $88,000 in 2005-06.
It should be noted that employment is measured at a point in time, i.e. end of June, whereas wages and salaries relate to a twelve month period. In times of significant change in the performance of an industry, as is the case in Mining in 2006-07, changes in wages and salaries may not be as great as changes in employment. This will be exacerbated by the effect of those businesses (refer paragraphs 27 and 28 of the Explanatory Notes) that report on a December year end. Their employment will be reported as at June 2007, whereas wages and salaries will be in respect of the twelve months ended December 2006.
In 2006-07 selected labour costs for total mining were $12.9b. Contract mining expenses exceeded selected labour costs in Iron ore mining (by 29%). For the mining industry, about 91% of the value of selected labour costs is represented by wages and salaries. The value of employer contributions to superannuation was $899m in 2006-07.
Quality Declaration 
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