Academics, employers and unions have roundly criticised the ABS's decision not to review occupational classifications used to keep pace with new and emerging jobs in the digital era, warning it undermines their ability to plan for the workforce of the future.
Real non-farm unit labour costs have retreated after three successive quarters of growth, while productivity in the market sector has seen a modest spike to arrest consecutive quarterly falls, according to ABS national accounts data released today.
FSU legally represented in banking royal commission; "No end date" comment spurs on-hire dismissal claim; Company's "secret" to closing gender pay gap; Disputes at decade-long low; and surprising lift in US private sector union membership.
RBA Governor Philip Lowe's jawboning on wages is yet to have an effect, with the ABS confirming today that growth in private sector rates of pay remains in the doldrums and is now in lockstep with cost of living increases.
Real non-farm unit labour costs have grown strongly in trend terms for the second quarter in a row, while gross value added per hour worked in the market sector has now increased for 26 of the past 27 quarters, according to ABS national accounts data released today.
Private sector rates of pay excluding bonuses are growing at 1.9% a year in trend terms, up from the recent historic low of 1.8%, according to the ABS.
Average pay rises in private sector agreements struck in last year's December quarter returned to the recent trend of about 3% a year, according to new Department of Employment data.
The number of industrial disputes hit an 11-year high last year, according to new ABS data released today, but they are nevertheless occurring at less than 15% of the level of 30 years ago.
