Average weekly earnings provide useful information on the cost of labour in the construction industry. This complements the information provided in the previous section on the cost of materials in the industry.
In May 2002, the average weekly earnings of all employees in the construction industry was $798, 16% higher than the all industries average ($687) (table 20.27). In May 2001, construction employees had average weekly earnings 7% greater than for all industries.
While average weekly earnings for all employees in the construction industry had fallen in the previous two years, in 2002 there was an increase of 13%, from $707 to $798. This increase was greater than the growth of average weekly earnings for all industries from $663 in May 2001 to $687 in May 2002 (a 4% increase). The increase of average weekly earnings in the construction industry is, in part, attributed to the sudden increase in demand for labour that accompanied the upturn in the construction industry in late 2001.
20.27 AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS
|
 | | Construction | | All industries |
|
|
|
| Full-time adult employees | All employees | Full-time adult employees | All employees |
| At May | $ | $ | $ | $ |
|
| 1994 | 709 | 635 | 656 | 532 |
| 1995 | 730 | 662 | 688 | 548 |
| 1996 | 751 | 681 | 715 | 564 |
| 1997 | 792 | 718 | 737 | 578 |
| 1998 | 808 | 739 | 768 | 596 |
| 1999 | 831 | 750 | 791 | 611 |
| 2000 | 797 | 720 | 822 | 635 |
| 2001 | 786 | 707 | 861 | 663 |
| 2002 | 879 | 798 | 906 | 687 |
|
| Source: Average Weekly Earnings, Australia (6302.0). |
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