Australia’s seasonally adjusted Wage Price Index rose 3.3% year-on-year in Q1 2025, a slight moderation from the 3.4% increase recorded in the previous quarter and in line with market expectations. The marginal slowdown reflected softer wage gains in both the private and public sectors: private-sector wages grew 3.2% (down from 3.4% in Q4), while public-sector pay increased 3.3% (down from 4.0%).
On a quarterly basis, wages advanced 0.8%, unchanged from the prior quarter and also matching market forecasts. In original terms, the electricity, gas, water & waste services industry posted the strongest quarterly increase at 1.1%. By contrast, the retail trade; accommodation and food services; and information, media & telecommunications industries recorded the weakest quarterly growth, at just 0.1%.
Over the year, electricity, gas, water & waste services also led all industries, with wages up 4.3%, while administrative & support services reported the slowest annual wage growth, at 2.8%.
