Private sector pay jumps; “short-term factors” responsible

24 February 2021

 

Summary: December quarter wage growth jumps; annual growth rate closer to 1% than 2%; short-term factors in play, probably not sustainable; private sector wages increase by 1.4% over year, public sector up by 2.1%; “some upward pressure” expected in March quarter; lower ABS underutilisation rate implies higher wage growth in 2021.   After unemployment increased and wage growth slowed during the GFC, a resources investment boom prompted a temporary recovery...

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