Average Incomes Increase

Embargoed until 10:45am – 5 October 2006

Average Incomes Increase

In the June 2006 quarter, the average weekly income for all people from all sources was $610, Statistics New Zealand said today. This information comes from the annual New Zealand Income Survey, which is run during the June quarter (April to June). The survey provides a snapshot of income statistics on people and households.

The $610 average weekly income (mentioned above) was an increase of 4.0 percent from the June 2005 quarter average of $586 and was mainly due to a rise in average weekly income from wages and salaries, coupled with a rise in the numbers of people in paid employment.

Average weekly income from all sources increased to $754 for males and $473 for females from the June 2005 quarter. This change was due to an increase in the average weekly wage and salary income for all people (up $24), and specifically an increase in the average weekly wage and salary income for females (up $28).

Over the year, the increase in the number of wage and salary earners was similar for males and females, up 5.2 percent and 4.5 percent, respectively. For those receiving wage and salary income, the average weekly wage and salary income increased more for females (up 6.7 percent) than for males (up 0.4 percent). The larger increase for females was mainly due to compositional and other changes across and within the paid workforce, including relative changes within industries and occupations.

The average number of hours worked was unchanged from the June 2005 quarter, while average hourly earnings for wage and salary earners increased by 3.9 percent ($0.74) to $20.04. Driving this increase were average hourly earnings for females, which increased by 6.9 percent ($1.19) to $18.55. Average hourly earnings for males increased by 1.4 percent ($0.29) to $21.46.

Brian Pink
Government Statistician

ENDS

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