The Wage Price Index (WPI) rose 0.8 per cent in the March quarter 2026 and 3.3 per cent annually, according to seasonally adjusted data released by Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today.
Sue-Ellen Luke, ABS head of prices statistics, said: 'Quarterly wage growth has remained steady at 0.8 per cent since September quarter 2025. Annual growth in wages was 3.3 per cent, largely unchanged from 3.4 per cent in December quarter 2025.'
| Quarterly (%) | Annual (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| Mar-11 | 0.9 | 3.9 |
| Jun-11 | 0.7 | 3.8 |
| Sep-11 | 0.9 | 3.7 |
| Dec-11 | 0.9 | 3.6 |
| Mar-12 | 1.0 | 3.6 |
| Jun-12 | 0.9 | 3.8 |
| Sep-12 | 0.8 | 3.7 |
| 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 | 0.9 | 2.7 |
| Sep-22 | 0.9 | 3.1 |
| Dec-22 | 0.8 | 3.3 |
| Mar-23 | 1.0 | 3.7 |
| Jun-23 | 0.8 | 3.6 |
| Sep-23 | 1.4 | 4.1 |
| Dec-23 | 1.0 | 4.3 |
| Mar-24 | 0.7 | 4.0 |
| Jun-24 | 0.9 | 4.1 |
| Sep-24 | 0.9 | 3.5 |
| 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 |
| Mar-26 | 0.8 | 3.3 |
- See Interpretation of index numbers, Percentage change and rounding on the Methodology page.
On an annual basis, public sector wages have grown at a faster pace than in the private sector for a fifth consecutive quarter, though the gap has narrowed substantially.
Annual private sector wages rose 3.2 per cent in the year to March quarter 2026, compared to the 3.3 per cent observed at the same time last year. Annual public sector wage growth was 3.3 per cent in the year to March 2026, lower than the 3.6 per cent at the same time last year.
Ms Luke said, 'The Healthcare and social assistance industry had the largest contribution to wages growth. It rose 0.7 per cent this quarter. A major Commonwealth funded initiative in the Early Childhood Education and Care workforce saw wage rises paid in the private sector for this industry, while Queensland hospital health care workers were the main driver of public growth.'
| Private (%) | Public (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3.9 |
| Sep-24 | 3.5 | 3.7 |
| 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 |
| Mar-26 | 3.2 | 3.3 |
- See Interpretation of index numbers, Percentage change and rounding on the Methodology page.
See our other insight and supporting graphs in our Wage Price Index, Australia, March quarter 2026 publication.
