Longest Run of Annual Real Wages Growth in Almost a Decade
New Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows annual real wages have grown for eight consecutive quarters, the longest period in almost a decade.
Cost of living
Term 2
New data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on 19 November 2025 shows that annual real wages have grown for eight consecutive quarters under the Albanese Labor Government.
This represents the longest period of consecutive annual real wage growth in almost a decade, demonstrating that government policies to deliver higher wages for workers are paying off for Australians. Real wages were declining before the government came to office but are now growing under Labor, as confirmed in the latest figures.
The wage price index grew 0.8 per cent in the September quarter 2025, to be 3.4 per cent higher through the year.
Real wages grew 0.2 per cent through the year to the September quarter 2025.
The data shows enterprise agreements continue to be a key source of wages growth for Australian workers, highlighting the importance of government efforts to boost bargaining.
When the government came to office, real wages were declining and had fallen for the five quarters leading up to the 2022 election, going backwards by 3.5 per cent. Since the government took office, average annualised nominal wages have been growing at 3.7 per cent, much higher than the 2.2 per cent under the previous government.
Annual nominal wages have grown above three per cent for every quarter since the government took office. There was not one quarter where wages grew with a three in front of it during the nine years of the previous Liberal government.
The government's support for the lowest paid workers means minimum wage earners are now earning more than AUD $175 per week more than when the government came to office. At the same time, the government has overseen the creation of 1.2 million jobs with stronger employment growth than any major advanced economy. Around four out of every five of those jobs have been created in the private sector, with private demand being the key driver of growth for three consecutive quarters.
In short:
Eight consecutive quarters of annual real wage growth, the longest period in almost a decade
Wage price index grew 3.4 per cent through the year to September quarter 2025
Minimum wage earners now earning more than AUD $175 per week more than when government took office, with 1.2 million jobs created
Sources:
[1] https://ministers.dewr.gov.au/rishworth/longest-run-annual-real-wages-growth-almost-decade
[2] https://alp.org.au/news/longest-run-of-annual-real-wages-growth-in-almost-a-decade/
Updated:
