The Wage Price Index (WPI) rose 0.8 per cent in the December quarter 2025 and 3.4 per cent annually, according to seasonally adjusted data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Michelle Marquardt, ABS head of prices statistics, said: 'Quarterly wage growth of 0.8 per cent was in line with the September quarter 2025. Annual growth in wages was 3.4 per cent up from 3.3 per cent in September quarter 2025.'
| Quarterly (%) | Annual (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| Dec-10 | 1.0 | 3.9 |
| Mar-11 | 0.9 | 3.9 |
| Jun-11 | 0.7 | 3.8 |
| Sep-11 | 0.8 | 3.6 |
| Dec-11 | 1.0 | 3.6 |
| Mar-12 | 1.0 | 3.6 |
| Jun-12 | 0.9 | 3.8 |
| Sep-12 | 0.8 | 3.8 |
| Dec-12 | 0.7 | 3.4 |
| Mar-13 | 0.7 | 3.1 |
| Jun-13 | 0.6 | 2.8 |
| Sep-13 | 0.6 | 2.6 |
| Dec-13 | 0.7 | 2.6 |
| Mar-14 | 0.8 | 2.7 |
| Jun-14 | 0.5 | 2.6 |
| Sep-14 | 0.6 | 2.6 |
| Dec-14 | 0.6 | 2.5 |
| Mar-15 | 0.6 | 2.3 |
| Jun-15 | 0.5 | 2.3 |
| Sep-15 | 0.6 | 2.3 |
| Dec-15 | 0.5 | 2.2 |
| Mar-16 | 0.5 | 2.1 |
| Jun-16 | 0.5 | 2.1 |
| Sep-16 | 0.4 | 1.9 |
| Dec-16 | 0.5 | 1.9 |
| Mar-17 | 0.6 | 1.9 |
| Jun-17 | 0.5 | 1.9 |
| Sep-17 | 0.5 | 2.0 |
| Dec-17 | 0.6 | 2.1 |
| Mar-18 | 0.5 | 2.0 |
| Jun-18 | 0.6 | 2.1 |
| Sep-18 | 0.6 | 2.3 |
| Dec-18 | 0.5 | 2.3 |
| Mar-19 | 0.5 | 2.3 |
| Jun-19 | 0.6 | 2.3 |
| Sep-19 | 0.5 | 2.2 |
| Dec-19 | 0.5 | 2.2 |
| Mar-20 | 0.5 | 2.2 |
| Jun-20 | 0.2 | 1.8 |
| Sep-20 | 0.1 | 1.4 |
| Dec-20 | 0.5 | 1.3 |
| Mar-21 | 0.7 | 1.5 |
| Jun-21 | 0.5 | 1.8 |
| Sep-21 | 0.5 | 2.2 |
| Dec-21 | 0.7 | 2.4 |
| Mar-22 | 0.7 | 2.4 |
| Jun-22 | 0.8 | 2.6 |
| Sep-22 | 1.0 | 3.1 |
| Dec-22 | 0.8 | 3.3 |
| Mar-23 | 1.0 | 3.7 |
| Jun-23 | 0.8 | 3.7 |
| Sep-23 | 1.3 | 4.0 |
| Dec-23 | 1.1 | 4.3 |
| Mar-24 | 0.7 | 4.0 |
| Jun-24 | 0.9 | 4.1 |
| Sep-24 | 0.9 | 3.6 |
| Dec-24 | 0.7 | 3.2 |
| Mar-25 | 0.9 | 3.4 |
| Jun-25 | 0.9 | 3.4 |
| Sep-25 | 0.8 | 3.3 |
| Dec-25 | 0.8 | 3.4 |
- See Interpretation of index numbers, Percentage change and rounding on the Methodology page.
Across both the private and public sector, wages rose 0.8 per cent.
On an annual basis, public sector wages grew at a faster pace than the private sector for the fourth consecutive quarter.
Annual public sector wage growth was 4.0 per cent in the year to December 2025, higher than the 2.8 per cent at the same time last year.
Private sector wages rose 3.4 per cent over the same period. This was higher than the 3.3 per cent growth recorded in the year to December 2024.
'Strong growth in public sector wages for 2025 was due to new state public sector agreements that delivered multiple pay rises over the course of the year,' said Ms Marquardt.
'Multiple pay rises occurred when agreements included backdated increases that took effect soon after the agreement was finalised, and a further scheduled rise was received later in the year.'
| Private (%) | Public (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| Dec-10 | 3.8 | 4.0 |
| Mar-11 | 4.0 | 3.6 |
| Jun-11 | 3.8 | 3.7 |
| Sep-11 | 3.7 | 3.3 |
| Dec-11 | 3.8 | 3.2 |
| Mar-12 | 3.7 | 3.1 |
| Jun-12 | 3.9 | 3.3 |
| Sep-12 | 3.7 | 3.4 |
| Dec-12 | 3.4 | 3.3 |
| Mar-13 | 3.2 | 3.1 |
| Jun-13 | 3.0 | 2.8 |
| Sep-13 | 2.8 | 2.6 |
| Dec-13 | 2.5 | 2.7 |
| Mar-14 | 2.6 | 2.9 |
| Jun-14 | 2.4 | 2.8 |
| Sep-14 | 2.4 | 2.7 |
| Dec-14 | 2.5 | 2.7 |
| Mar-15 | 2.2 | 2.5 |
| Jun-15 | 2.2 | 2.5 |
| Sep-15 | 2.1 | 2.7 |
| Dec-15 | 2.0 | 2.6 |
| Mar-16 | 2.0 | 2.5 |
| Jun-16 | 2.0 | 2.4 |
| Sep-16 | 1.9 | 2.3 |
| Dec-16 | 1.8 | 2.3 |
| Mar-17 | 1.8 | 2.3 |
| Jun-17 | 1.8 | 2.5 |
| Sep-17 | 1.9 | 2.4 |
| Dec-17 | 1.9 | 2.4 |
| Mar-18 | 1.9 | 2.4 |
| Jun-18 | 2.1 | 2.3 |
| Sep-18 | 2.1 | 2.6 |
| Dec-18 | 2.3 | 2.5 |
| Mar-19 | 2.4 | 2.4 |
| Jun-19 | 2.3 | 2.7 |
| Sep-19 | 2.2 | 2.4 |
| Dec-19 | 2.2 | 2.2 |
| Mar-20 | 2.1 | 2.3 |
| Jun-20 | 1.8 | 2.1 |
| Sep-20 | 1.2 | 1.8 |
| Dec-20 | 1.3 | 1.6 |
| Mar-21 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| Jun-21 | 1.9 | 1.3 |
| Sep-21 | 2.3 | 1.7 |
| Dec-21 | 2.4 | 2.1 |
| Mar-22 | 2.4 | 2.2 |
| Jun-22 | 2.7 | 2.4 |
| Sep-22 | 3.4 | 2.4 |
| Dec-22 | 3.6 | 2.5 |
| Mar-23 | 3.8 | 3.0 |
| Jun-23 | 3.9 | 3.1 |
| Sep-23 | 4.3 | 3.5 |
| Dec-23 | 4.2 | 4.3 |
| Mar-24 | 4.2 | 3.8 |
| Jun-24 | 4.1 | 4.0 |
| Sep-24 | 3.5 | 3.6 |
| Dec-24 | 3.3 | 2.8 |
| Mar-25 | 3.3 | 3.6 |
| Jun-25 | 3.4 | 3.6 |
| Sep-25 | 3.3 | 3.9 |
| Dec-25 | 3.4 | 4.0 |
- See Interpretation of index numbers, Percentage change and rounding on the Methodology page.
The Healthcare and social assistance industry was the main contributor to wages growth for the private and public sector this quarter.
Two major Commonwealth funded initiatives in aged care and early childhood care and education saw rises paid in the private sector for this industry. Growth in the public sector was largely related to scheduled enterprise agreement rises paid to frontline health care workers across New South Wales.
| Quarterly contribution | |
|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 0.18 |
| Education and training | 0.07 |
| Construction | 0.06 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 0.05 |
| Financial and insurance services | 0.05 |
| Manufacturing | 0.05 |
| Transport, postal and warehousing | 0.04 |
| Wholesale trade | 0.04 |
| Public administration and safety | 0.03 |
| Retail trade | 0.03 |
| Mining | 0.03 |
| Information media and telecommunications | 0.02 |
| Other services | 0.02 |
| Administrative and support services | 0.02 |
| Electricity, gas, water and waste services | 0.01 |
| Rental, hiring and real estate services | 0.01 |
| Accommodation and food services | 0.01 |
| Arts and recreation services | 0.01 |
See our other insights and supporting graphs in our Wage Price Index, Australia, December quarter 2025 publication.
