New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed a cooling trend in the nation's wage expansion, with annual average weekly earnings growth slowing to 3.8% in the year to November 2025.
Despite the deceleration, the average ordinary time earnings for full-time adults reached a record $2,051.10, representing a modest $75.30 increase over the past twelve months.
According to Sean Crick, ABS head of labour statistics, the six-month growth rate of 2% indicates a stabilisation in the market.
While this figure sits comfortably above the 1.7% recorded in the first half of 2025, it remains lower than the robust 2.7% increase seen during the same period in 2024.
The downward shift is even more pronounced when compared to the annual peaks of 4.5% in May 2025 and 4.6% in late 2024.
The report also highlighted a significant milestone in workforce equity: the gender pay gap remained steady at 11.5%.
The figure matches the series' record low, maintaining a level of consistency last established in May 2024.
Sectoral data shows a balanced spread of growth, with the public sector slightly outperforming the private sector on an annual basis at 3.9% versus 3.7%.
However, the private sector maintained a narrow lead in the short term, posting a 2% rise over the last six months compared to the public sector's 1.9%.