More wage and salary earners boosts income

More wage and salary earners boosts income – Media release

3 October 2014

More people receiving income from wages and salaries pushed up individuals’ income, Statistics New Zealand said today. Fifty percent of people received more than $600 in the June 2014 quarter, which was $25 higher than in the June 2013 quarter and the largest annual rise since the June 2007 quarter.

“We’ve seen income rising, with 94,500 more people earning wages and salaries, and fewer people receiving income from government transfers,” labour market and households statistics manager Diane Ramsay said. This pushed up income, as weekly earnings from wages and salaries tend to be higher than government transfers.

Median weekly income from wages and salaries increased 2.3 percent (to $863), while average weekly income from wages and salaries increased 3.0 percent (to $991). More full-time workers contributed to these increases in the June 2014 quarter.

Median hourly earnings increased 1.7 percent (to $21.94), while average hourly earnings increased 3.0 percent (to $26.78) due to the increase in full-time workers and the increase in the minimum wage from $13.75 to $14.25.

The number of people receiving government transfers fell by 30,700, despite 17,900 more people aged 65 and over receiving income from this source.

The New Zealand Income Survey (NZIS) surveys approximately 30,000 people each year during the June quarter (April to June). It provides a snapshot of before-tax income statistics about individuals and households.

See User guide for Statistics New Zealand's wage and income measures for more information on the NZIS and other income measures Statistics NZ provides.

Ends

For more information about these statistics:
• Visit New Zealand Income Survey: June 2014 quarter
• Open the attached files
http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/1410/NZIncomeSurveyJun14qtr.pdf
nzisjune2014qtralltables.xls

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