SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australian wages picked up in the March quarter led by government pay rises for care workers, data showed on Wednesday, while subdued growth in the private sector suggested a tight labour market was still no bar to a cut in interest rates.
Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday showed its wage price index rose 0.9% in the first quarter, just above market forecasts of 0.8%.
Annual pay growth rose to 3.4%, from 3.2%, again topping forecasts of a steady outcome. Growth in the private sector held at 3.3%, while public wage growth jumped back to 3.6%, reversing a sharp decline the previous quarter.
(Reporting by Wayne Cole; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)
Comments