Public servants get more money than private sector employees

Total hourly rates of pay excluding bonuses increased in the public sector by 1.2 per cent during the September quarter and by 3.9 per cent during the year to September.

Comparable figures for the private sector show movements of 0.8 per cent during the quarter and 3.4 per cent through the year to September. The ABS data also shows that the Labour Price Index excluding bonuses increased by 3.5 per cent during 2003-2004 when compared to the previous financial year.

According to the ABS figures total hourly rates of pay excluding bonuses rose by 0.9 per cent in seasonally adjusted terms during the September quarter. The increase through the year to September was 3.4 per cent when measured in trend terms and 3.5 per cent on seasonally adjusted basis.

The annual change for the public sector during the 2003-2004 financial year was 4.4 per cent compared to 3.2 per cent for the private sector.

Printing Industries Manager of Industry and Commercial Policy, Hagop Tchamkertenian, said the Labour Price Index showed that labour costs moderated in the private sector during 2003-2004 compared to the previous financial year.

"Hourly rates increased by 3.5 per cent for the year to September 2004. At present wage movements are unlikely to pose a serious threat to inflation," he said.

Tchamkertenian warned that skilled labour shortages currently being experienced in printing and other industries need to be closely monitored in the months ahead. Any further change in skilled labour is likely to put upward pressure on wages.