Executive Summary

This paper seeks to increase the understanding of the impact of award wage increases on small businesses in Australia by providing an analysis of the characteristics and performance of small award-reliant businesses and their employees. Results derived from firm level data showed that small award-reliant only businesses were less likely to experience increased productivity, profitability...

The report provides an overview of the relevant research literature relating to the concepts and determinants of productivity, business competitiveness and viability and their relationship with minimum wages. It also presents various measures of productivity, business competitiveness and viability and their trends at an aggregate and industry level over the medium term. Using the ABS...

This report examines the structure and workforce of the Retail trade industry. Topics covered include: an industry overview; industry performance and trends; forms and conditions of employment; and earnings and wage instruments.The retail industry is relatively concentrated among large firms and profit margins are the lowest of any industry. On average, wages and salaries account...