Advertisement
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released wage growth data for Q2 2025, which came in slightly above the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) forecasts outlined in its August Statement of Monetary Policy (SoMP):
Source: Alex Joiner (IFM Investors)
Nationally, wages increased by 0.8% in the second quarter, resulting in a year-on-year growth of 3.4%.
Advertisement
Wages in the private sector rose by 0.8% in Q2 to be 3.4% higher year-on-year, whereas public sector wages rose by 1.0% in Q2 to be 3.7% higher year-on-year:
Meanwhile, real wages are still tracking 6.0% below their Q2 2020 peak at around Q4 2011 levels:
Advertisement
It is a long way back for Australian workers, whose wages remain deep underwater.
About the author
Leith van Onselen is Chief Economist at the MB Fund and MB Super. He is also a co-founder of MacroBusiness.
Leith has previously worked at the Australian Treasury, Victorian Treasury and Goldman Sachs.