Prior to COVID-19, wages growth in Australia was somewhat lower than was expected based on historical determinants. This paper examines concentration in Australian labour markets and its impacts on wages using a large and representative database derived from administrative tax data.

The focus in current anti-inflation policy on suppressing wage growth, enforcing a permanent reduction in real wages, while ignoring the role of record profits in driving post-pandemic inflation reflects an ahistorical and ideological approach to macroeconomic management, writes Jim Stanford.

This report sheds light on the scale and impact of the Australia's nominal wage increases and their recent decline.

This paper reviews the evidence regarding wages growth in Australia since the 2008 financial crisis and discusses what it means for policy. This includes the pros and cons of new policy measures, such as a return to multi-employer bargaining and a boost to planned permanent...

The weakness of wage growth in Australia over the past decade has been extreme by both historic and international standards. The authors of this report argue that the reforms proposed in the 'Secure Jobs, Better Wages' Bill represent important, but incremental steps in restoring a...

The new Albanese Government has tabled a revised budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year, revising revenue and spending forecasts. In this paper, Centre for Future Work researchers evaluate the budget's assumptions and policy measures from the perspective of workers and labour markets.

This report investigates the history of Australian inflation and policy choices, and provides a counter to the view that low inflation and the current inflation target is acceptable.

This edition of the Treasury Round Up looks at a range of issues that affect productivity in the Australian economy.

In this policy paper, released ahead of the Jobs and Skills Summit, the Business Council of Australia identifies the critical resets needed on skills and migration to lock in a stronger economy and better wages.

The Business Council of Australia has prepared this discussion paper ahead of the upcoming Jobs and Skills Summit.

The distributional consequences of record high profits and record low real wage growth have been widely discussed in Australia recently, but the data presented in this paper suggests that rising profits are now the major driver of inflation.

The recent federal election featured important debate regarding the recent acceleration of inflation in Australia, and whether and how wages should be boosted to keep up with higher prices. This briefing paper reviews the detailed findings of an exit poll regarding wages, prices and the...

This report explores how Australian Service Union members working in clerical and administrative roles in the private sector are faring under these conditions. It provides insight into their wages and their satisfaction with their wages, their perceptions around their financial situation and the cost of...

This report examines the escalating cost of living and retention crisis for New South Wales public sector workers.

The economic crisis facing the United Kingdom is very different to the 2008 financial crash and the early 1990s recession – which means a very different response is required by the government, argues Gemma Tetlow in this report.

While significant concerns have been raised about the inflationary impacts of a five percent increase in the minimum wage, in reality, the authors of this paper argue that the direct inflationary impact of a five percent increase in all wages is only 1.27 percent, and...

A comprehensive review of Australian wage trends indicates that wage growth is likely to remain stuck at historically weak levels - despite the dramatic disruptions experienced by the Australian labour market through the COVID-19 pandemic. This report finds that targeted policies to deliberately lift wages...

Economic management is a feature of all election campaigns, but key claims made to date do not stack up. This paper explores claims about wages growth and tax by the Morrison Government, finding inconsistencies between its arguments and its record.

This report begins by describing trends in wage growth in Australia over the last 14 years. It then identifies the policy positions of the federal government since assuming office in 2013 that have contributed to slow wage growth.

The Morrison Government has tabled its budget for the 2022-23 financial year. In this briefing paper, the Centre for Future Work's team of economists unpacks the budget, considers its effects and suggests alternatives.

Inflation is rising around the world, the sting in the tail of the pandemic economic stimulus packages unleashed by governments in 2020. This analysis paper examines the implications for prices and wages growth in Australia.

This document reports on the extent to which firm financial performance is passed on to workers in the form of higher wages and the degree to which this pass-through has changed over the period 2002-2018.

Wages growth in Australia has been sluggish for years, well before the coronavirus pandemic hit the economy. In a Facebook post, Federal Labor claimed that "under Scott Morrison real wages have fallen 2.1 per cent in 12 months, the fastest drop in wages in 20...

This discussion paper has been prepared to trigger widespread consultations with the broader community about Australia's economic future.

After being overly optimistic with its wage forecasts for years, Federal Treasury is now, according to Labor, predicting that real wages will fall. RMIT ABC Fact Check investigates. The verdict: Mr Albanese is close to the mark.