Weekly Payroll Jobs and Wages in Australia

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Payroll jobs and wages estimates, sourced from Single Touch Payroll (STP) data

Reference period
Week ending 17 July 2021
Released
5/08/2021

Key statistics

  • Payroll jobs decreased by 2.4% between the weeks ending 3 and 17 July 2021.

Suspension of wages estimates

Around the end of the financial year there is a greater variation in business reporting, as businesses finalise their employee's earning information and the financial year is reset in payroll systems. This variability in reporting makes the production of high quality wages indexes difficult. As a result, wages estimates have been temporarily withdrawn from this release, until more complete data is received for July. As such, wages estimates have been replaced with 'not available' (na or NA) in both tables and data downloads throughout this release. 

 The suspension of wages estimates has also effected the early withdrawal of Data download Tables 1, 2 and 3, which were planned for retirement in the transition to monthly releases. Underlying payroll jobs data continue to be available in Table 4 of the Data downloads.

National

    In the fortnight up to the week ending 17 July 2021:

    • Payroll jobs decreased by 2.4%, compared to a decrease of 0.2% in the previous fortnight
    Table 1 - Percentage change in payroll jobs and wages (a)
    In the fortnight since 3 Jul 2021In the month since 19 Jun 2021In the year since 18 Jul 2020
    Payroll jobs-2.4%-2.6%3.3%
    Total wagesnanana
    1. Wages estimates have been withdrawn from this release. For more information, see Suspension of wages estimates.

    Estimates of changes throughout this release are calculated using un-rounded index values. They may be different from, but are more accurate than, movements obtained from the rounded index values.

    1. Care should be exercised when focusing on the most recent movements in estimates. For more information, see Data limitations and revisions
    2. Wages estimates have been withdrawn from this release. For more information, see Suspension of wages estimates.

    State and territory

    All geographical areas in this release represent the residential address of the jobholder. 

    The largest changes in states and territories in the fortnight up to the week ending 17 July 2021 were:

    Payroll jobs:

    • New South Wales decreased by 4.4%
    • Australian Capital Territory decreased by 2.4%
    Table 2 - Percentage change by states and territories
     Payroll jobs Total wages (a) 
     Change between 3 Jul 2021 and 17 Jul 2021 (b)Change between 14 Mar 2020 and 17 Jul 2021Change between 3 Jul 2021 and 17 Jul 2021 (b)Change between 14 Mar 2020 and 17 Jul 2021
    New South Wales-4.4%-0.5%nana
    Victoria-1.9%1.6%nana
    Queensland-1.1%3.6%nana
    South Australia-1.4%4.6%nana
    Western Australia-1.2%5.6%nana
    Tasmania-1.7%1.6%nana
    Northern Territory-1.5%5.9%nana
    Australian Capital Territory-2.4%1.5%nana
    Australia-2.4%2.0%nana

    a. Wages estimates have been withdrawn from this release. For more information, see Suspension of wages estimates.
    b. Care should be exercised when focusing on the most recent movements in estimates. For more information, see Data limitations and revisions

    An additional index of Australian payroll jobs with New South Wales excluded (Rest of Australia) is available below, providing alternative insights into the period of increased COVID-19 restrictions in New South Wales.

    a. Care should be exercised when focusing on the most recent movements in estimates. For more information, see Data limitations and revisions

    Map 1 - State and territory percentage change in payroll jobs, in the fortnight to 17 July 2021

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    This map presents the percentage change in payroll jobs in the fortnight up to 17 July 2021, by the state and territory of the jobholder's residential address. 

    - New South Wales (-4.4%)
    - Victoria (-1.9%)
    - Queensland (-1.1%)
    - South Australia (-1.4%)
    - Western Australia (-1.2%)
    - Tasmania (-1.7%)
    - Northern Territory (-1.5%)
    - Australian Capital Territory (-2.4%)

    Sub-state - payroll jobs

    Time series estimates of payroll jobs by sub-state regions, Statistical Area 4 (SA4) and Statistical Area 3 (SA3) and Greater Capital City Area (GCCSA) regions, are presented as index values in Table 5 and 5A of the Data downloads. 

    For more information on the geography used in this release, see the Glossary.

     

    Map 2 - GCCSA regions percentage change in payroll jobs, in the fortnight to 17 July 2021

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    This map presents the percentage change in payroll jobs in the fortnight up to 17 July 2021, by the GCCSA region of the jobholder's residential address. 
    - Greater Sydney (-5.0%)
    - Rest of New South Wales (-3.0%)
    - Greater Melbourne (-1.7%)
    - Rest of Victoria (-2.8%)
    - Greater Brisbane (-1.1%)
    - Rest of Queensland (-1.3%)
    - Greater Adelaide (-1.5%)
    - Rest of South Australia (-1.7%)
    - Greater Perth (-1.1%)
    - Rest of Western Australia (-1.8%)
    - Greater Hobart (-1.6%)
    - Rest of Tasmania (-1.9%)
    - Greater Darwin (-1.2%)
    - Rest of Northern Territory (-2.2%)
    - Australian Capital Territory (-2.4%)

    Footnotes

    The ACT only has one GCCSA region for the entire Territory.

    Sex

    In the fortnight up to the week ending 17 July 2021:

    Payroll jobs: 

    • Worked by females decreased by 2.8%
    • Worked by males decreased by 2.0%
    Table 3 - Percentage change by sex (a)
     Payroll jobs Total wages (b) 
     Change between 3 Jul 2021 and 17 Jul 2021 (c)Change between 14 Mar 2020 and 17 Jul 2021Change between 3 Jul 2021 and 17 Jul 2021 (c)Change between 14 Mar 2020 and 17 Jul 2021
    Males-2.0%-0.2%nana
    Females-2.8%0.9%nana
    All persons-2.4%2.0%nana

    a. Persons with 'unknown' sex are only included in the calculation of All persons indexes. For more information, see Data components, totals and index calculation in Data limitations and revisions
    b. Wages estimates have been withdrawn from this release. For more information, see Suspension of wages estimates.
    c. Care should be exercised when focusing on the most recent movements in estimates. For more information, see Data limitations and revisions

    1. Care should be exercised when focusing on the most recent movements in payroll jobs. For more information, see Data limitations and revisions

    Age group

    The largest changes in age groups in the fortnight up to the week ending 17 July 2021 were:

    Payroll jobs: 

    • Worked by people aged 70 years and over decreased by 5.3%
    • Worked by people aged 20-29 decreased by 3.9%
    Table 4 - Percentage change by age group
     Payroll jobs Total wages (a) 
     Change between 3 Jul 2021 and 17 Jul 2021 (b)Change between 14 Mar 2020 and 17 Jul 2021Change between 3 Jul 2021 and 17 Jul 2021 (b)Change between 14 Mar 2020 and 17 Jul 2021
    15-19 year olds-3.6%0.7%nana
    20-29 year olds-3.9%-0.7%nana
    30-39 year olds-2.1%2.3%nana
    40-49 year olds-1.5%1.8%nana
    50-59 year olds-1.5%3.1%nana
    60-69 year olds-2.4%6.6%nana
    Aged 70 years and over-5.3%6.3%nana
    All persons-2.4%2.0%nana

    a. Wages estimates have been withdrawn from this release. For more information, see Suspension of wages estimates.
    b. Care should be exercised when focusing on the most recent movements in estimates. For more information, see Data limitations and revisions

    5 year age groups

    Time series estimates of payroll jobs by 5 year age groups are presented as index values in Table 8 of the Data downloads. 

    Industry

    The largest changes in industries in the fortnight up to the week ending 17 July 2021 were:

    Payroll jobs: 

    • Accommodation and food services decreased by 8.7%
    • Agriculture, forestry and fishing decreased by 7.7%
    Table 5 - Percentage change by industry
     Payroll jobs (a) Total wages (a)(b) 
     Change between 3 Jul 2021 and 17 Jul 2021 (c)Change between 14 Mar 2020 and 17 Jul 2021Change between 3 Jul 2021 and 17 Jul 2021 (c)Change between 14 Mar 2020 and 17 Jul 2021
    Agriculture, forestry and fishing-7.7%-1.9%nana
    Mining1.7%2.4%nana
    Manufacturing0.3%-1.4%nana
    Electricity, gas, water and waste services0.1%4.3%nana
    Construction-1.9%2.7%nana
    Wholesale trade-0.5%-1.3%nana
    Retail trade-0.5%1.8%nana
    Accommodation and food services-8.7%-9.7%nana
    Transport, postal and warehousing-2.7%-8.1%nana
    Information media and telecommunications-0.2%-5.8%nana
    Financial and insurance services0.7%10.6%nana
    Rental, hiring and real estate services-2.9%1.6%nana
    Professional, scientific and technical services-1.5%5.9%nana
    Administrative and support services-5.9%3.8%nana
    Public administration and safety0.0%11.7%nana
    Education and training-3.1%-2.5%nana
    Health care and social assistance-2.9%6.3%nana
    Arts and recreation services-4.5%-4.6%nana
    Other services-5.5%2.8%nana
    All industries-2.4%2.0%nana

    a. Some industries experience pronounced seasonality in either payroll jobs and wages or both. For more information, see Seasonality in Data limitations and revisions.
    b. Wages estimates have been withdrawn from this release. For more information, see Suspension of wages estimates.
    c. Care should be exercised when focusing on the most recent movements in estimates. For more information, see Data limitations and revisions.

    1. Industries ranked by percentage change in the latest fortnight. 

    Industry subdivision - Payroll jobs

    Time series estimates of payroll jobs by industry subdivision are presented as index values in Table 6 of the Data downloads. For more information on the industry classifications used in this release, see the Glossary

    Employment size

    Recent movements in payroll jobs by employment size are subject to higher than usual levels of revision (over a longer period) than other estimates. This is particularly the case for small employers (with under 20 employees). Further information is presented on the impact of revisions on the small employers index, in Variation in revisions in Data limitations and revisions.

    Table 6 - Percentage change in payroll jobs by employment size (a)
    Change between 3 and 17 Jul 2021 (b)Change between 14 Mar 2020 and 17 Jul 2021 (c)
    Under 20 employees-6.9%0.6%
    20-199 employees-3.2%3.0%
    200 employees and over0.3%1.8%
    All businesses-2.4%2.0%
    1. Records with 'unknown' employment size are only included in the calculation of All businesses indexes. For more information, see Data components, totals and index calculation in Data limitations and revisions
    2. Care should be exercised when focusing on the most recent movements in payroll jobs. For more information, see Data limitations and revisions
    3. Care should be exercised when referring to change in employment size pre and post characteristics update. For more information, see Update of employer characteristics in Methods review

    Data downloads

    Table 1: National spotlight

    This table has been withdrawn, see Suspension of wages estimates for further information.

    Table 2: State and territory spotlight

    This table has been withdrawn, see Suspension of wages estimates for further information.

    Table 3: Industry spotlight

    This table has been withdrawn, see Suspension of wages estimates for further information.

    Table 4: Payroll jobs and wages indexes

    Wages estimates within this download have been withdrawn. See Suspension of wages estimates for further information. 

    Table 5: Sub-state - Payroll jobs indexes

    These estimates are now updated in every release. 

    Table 5a: Greater Capital City Statistical Area (GCCSA) regions - Payroll jobs indexes

    New estimates available since 22 July 2021.

    Table 6: Industry subdivision - Payroll jobs indexes

    These estimates are now updated in every release. 

    Table 7: Employer characteristics - Payroll jobs index

    Contains estimates of payroll jobs by employment size, including state and territory dimension. 

    Table 8: Jobholder characteristics - Payroll jobs index

    Contains estimates of payroll jobs by 5 year age groups. 

    All data cubes

    Changes in this release

    The following sections were updated in this release:

    • National and Sex: graphs now present one year periods
    • State and Territory: additional graph of selected geographies (NSW and Rest of Australia)
    • Industry: graph now presents ranked change for consecutive fortnights
    • Data downloads: Tables 5, 5A and 6 are now updated in every release

    The following section of the Methodology was updated in this release:

    • Differences to labour force employment statistics: text updates

     

    Upcoming changes to this release

    The transition of the Weekly Payroll Jobs and Wages in Australia to a monthly frequency has been delayed until September 2021, in line with our rapid response capability to prioritise timeliness of estimates surrounding changing COVID-19 circumstances. A transitional 'fortnightly' release with a 26-day lag will be released on Thursday 26 August for the week ending 31 July 2021.

    First monthly release

    The first monthly release is scheduled for 9 September 2021 and will include estimates up to the week ending 14 August 2021. The time between the reference week and the release date will be extended by around 9 days, to deliver a 26-day lag in the compilation of estimates. This allows for more complete business reporting and a reduction in the level of imputation in the most recent weeks of data, improving the quality of estimates and reducing subsequent revision. 

    In addition to quality improvements, the frequency change will also enable an expansion of outputs which will be described in the next release. 

    Contact labour.statistics@abs.gov.au for more information on upcoming changes.

    Previous articles

    Previously published articles and information of interest are linked below:

    Previous catalogue number

    This release previously used catalogue number 6160.0.55.001.

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