The Albanese Labor Government's workplace reforms are reinvigorating bargaining with a record 2.8 million Australian workers now covered by enterprise agreements - up from 2.68 million in the previous March quarter - and the highest ever number since enterprise bargaining commenced in 1991.
The Trends in Federal Enterprise Bargaining report for the June quarter 2025 has revealed that enterprise agreements continue to deliver real wage growth, with approved agreements leading to average annual wage increases of 4.2% with average annual wage increases under enterprise agreements, being above inflation now for seven consecutive quarters.
Enterprise Bargaining agreements are also delivering higher increases than economy wide wage increases that currently stand at 3.4%.
Significantly, newly approved agreements in the June quarter show higher pay increases in the private sector at 4.3% compared to approvals in the public sector of 3.9%, which builds on the results of the previous March quarter, where increases in the private sector were 3.9% compared to the public sector 3.5%
The 4.2% average annualised wage increase for approved agreements also shows quarter by quarter improvement - it compares to 3.8% for the March quarter and an increase on the past five-year average of 3.4%.
Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth said the Albanese Labor Government's reforms to reinvigorate enterprise agreements are benefitting employees by providing better pay, improved work conditions and employment rights while helping businesses improve staff retention, flexibility and productivity.
"This latest report marked the seventh consecutive quarter that wages growth in enterprise agreements had outpaced inflation and growth in real wages provides Australian workers with crucial relief for cost-of-living challenges and enables them to get ahead," Minister Rishworth said.
"The first-term changes have removed barriers to workplace bargaining in sectors, like the early childhood education and care sector, where the landmark supported bargaining agreement covers over 45,000 employees.
"These figures highlight that the Albanese Labor Government is delivering higher wages and better outcomes for Australian workers and workplaces - and private sector employees led the pay uplift."
"Legislation such as the Secure Jobs, Better Pay Act and the Closing Loopholes Act are helping to improve and strengthen enterprise bargaining, providing better wages and greater job security for employees and tailored terms and conditions for businesses."
"The independent review into our Government's Secure Jobs, Better Pay changes found that the government's reforms were achieving their intent and getting real wages moving."
