Gender pay gap in average weekly earnings also down to lowest
The growth of average weekly earnings of Australians dropped to its lowest levels since 2022, according to new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
The ABS data revealed that average weekly ordinary time earnings for full-time adults in Australia hit $2,083.70 in May 2026.
This is equivalent to an increase of 1.6%, lower than the 2.0% increase recorded in November 2025.
"Growth in average weekly earnings for full-time adults for the six months to May 2026 was 1.6%. This was the lowest six-monthly growth since May 2022," said Sean Crick, ABS head of labour statistics. "Annual growth to May 2026 was 3.7% which was the lowest annual increase since November 2022."
According to ABS data, public sector growth saw a stronger increase in average weekly earnings in the six months to May 2026 with 2.3%, while the private sector recorded 1.4%.
By state, the Australian Capital Territory logged the highest average weekly ordinary time earnings with $2,290.20.
Queensland, however, saw the largest growth of all the states and territories with a 2.5% growth rate, followed by the Northern Territory which rose by 2.2%.
By industry, workers in the mining sector saw the highest average weekly ordinary time earnings with $3,224.20, followed by those in the Information media and telecommunications sector with $2,714.10.
The strongest increase, however, was recorded in the transport, postal, and warehousing industry with a 4.3% growth rate. This is followed by the wholesale trade industry with a 3.2% growth.
Gender pay gap at its lowest
Meanwhile, the report found that the gender pay gap in average weekly ordinary time earnings fell to its lowest-ever at 11.3%.
This is lower than the 11.5% recorded in November 2025.
According to the report, full-time adult male employees were earning $2,181 on average per week. Full-time adult female employees, on the other hand, were earning $1,934.50 on average per week.
