Australian employees have experienced a median weekly earnings increase of 1.9 per cent in 2017, according to recent figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). 

From August 2016 to August 2017, the media weekly earnings of full-time employees rose by 1.5 per cent, and the earnings of part-time employees rose by 3.3 per cent. 

However, the ABS described this increase as “subdued” as reflected by their figures in detail. 

“The subdued earnings growth of full-time employees was particularly apparent for casual employees in 2017. The media weekly earnings of male full-time casual employees actually fell by 1% and remained unchanged for female full-time casual employees,” Program Manager for Labour Statistics at the ABS, Bjorn Jarvis said. 

The fall in median weekly earnings for male full-time casual employees followed the pattern of average five year 0.8 per cent decrease in 2012-2017, from 2007-2012.  

Also, the average of median weekly earnings for female full-time casual employees decreased down to 2.7 per cent, down from the 3.0 per cent in 2007 to 2012. 

According to the ABS, median figures are not the same as an average, and refer to the middle point of distribution. The figure is not determined by very high and very low earners. 

A person, who may be in the middle of distribution, will have the same number of people earning more and less than them.