- Persisting lockdowns continue to impact payroll jobs
- Driven by mining, wages make a recovery
In the fortnight to 11 September 2021 payroll jobs fell 0.7%, back below pre-pandemic levels, according to new figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
This followed a larger fall of 1.5% in the previous fortnight.
Bjorn Jarvis, head of Labour Statistics at the ABS, explained that apart from the seasonal plunge after Christmas, payroll jobs mid last month were at the lowest levels since the end of August during Victoria’s second wave lockdown.
“The series of falls in payroll jobs through July, August and into September saw payroll jobs fall back below their pre-pandemic level (0.5 per cent below).”
Bjorn Jarvis, head of Labour Statistics at the ABS
“Payroll jobs were below pre-pandemic levels in New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory, all of which had lockdowns in effect.”
Those living in capital cities generally experienced greater job losses than rural and regional areas.
Mr Jarvis explained that this trend is especially evident in Victoria “…where payroll jobs in Greater Melbourne fell by 2.1 per cent, compared with a 1.1 per cent fall in the rest of Victoria.”
Payroll jobs nationally
Arts and recreation services saw the most job losses, with a 7.4% decline in the sector’s payroll jobs.
This was followed by agriculture, forestry and fishing which say a 2.2% decline in the same fortnight.
Wages Rise
In the same fortnight, total wages paid increased 1.8%. This followed a 0.8% decline in the previous fortnight.
Mining accounted for the most growth in wages, the sector as a 15.6% increase in wages during the fortnight.
This was followed by retail trade which rose 7.9% and electricity, gas, water and waste services which increased 7.1% in the same fortnight.
Payroll jobs and total wages
