Profile of each income group by gender of household reference person

Families with a female reference person generally have lower incomes than those with a male reference person. The two charts below show the profile of each income group by the gender of the household reference person.  2019-20 This chart shows that a clear majority (70%) of households in the highest 20% income group had a male reference person. 2017-18 This chart shows that the majority (71%) of households in the highest 20% income group had a male reference person.


Community attitudes: Unemployment payments should be enough for people to be able to see the doctor when they need

This chart shows the responses in our Community attitudes towards poverty and inequality survey 2023 to the idea that Unemployment payments should be enough for people to be able to see the doctor when they need. It shows that 84% of people in Australia agreed that unemployment payments should be enough for people to be able to see the doctor when they need. Read the full report here: https://bit.ly/communityattitudes2023


Community attitudes: People can find themselves needing unemployment payments through no fault of their own

This chart shows the responses in our Community attitudes towards poverty and inequality survey 2023 to the idea that People can find themselves needing unemployment payments through no fault of their own It shows that 78% of people in Australia agreed that people can find themselves needing unemployment payments through no fault of their own. Read the full report here: https://bit.ly/communityattitudes2023


Community attitudes: Australia should be a country that looks after those in need

This chart shows the responses in our Community attitudes towards poverty and inequality survey 2023 to the idea that Australia should be a country that looks after those in need. It shows that 83% of people in Australia agreed that Australia should be a country that looks after those in need. Read the full report here: https://bit.ly/communityattitudes2023 


Community attitudes: Incomes at the top are too high and should be reduced

This chart shows the responses in our Community attitudes towards poverty and inequality survey 2023 to the the idea that incomes at the top are too high and should be reduced. It shows that 63% of people in Australia agreed that the incomes of those with the most are too high and should be reduced. Read the full report here: https://bit.ly/communityattitudes2023  


Community attitudes: Incomes of those on the lowest incomes are too low and should be increased

This chart shows the responses in our Community attitudes towards poverty and inequality survey 2023 to the query whether the incomes of those in the lowest income group are too low and should be increased. It shows that 76% of people in Australia agreed that the incomes of those on the lowest incomes are too low and should be increased. Read the full report here: https://bit.ly/communityattitudes2023  


Community attitudes: The gap between the wealthy and those in poverty is too great and should be reduced

This chart shows the responses in our Community attitudes towards poverty and inequality survey 2023 to the idea that The gap between rich and poor is too great and should be reduced.  It shows that 74% of people agreed that the gap between the wealthy and those living in poverty is too great and should be reduced. Read the full report here: https://bit.ly/communityattitudes2023  


Average annual change in disposable income during COVID-19

This chart shows how income inequality declined sharply in year one of the Covid recovery (2020-21) but was restored to its previous level in year two (2021-22). It shows that, in year one (2020-21), inequality declined. The average income of the lowest 20% grew by 5.2% after inflation, compared with 3% for the middle 20% and 2.4% for the highest 20%. In year two (2021-22) this pattern was reversed. The average income of the lowest 20% fell by 3.5%, compared with a fall of 0.5% for the middle 20% and a fall of 0.1% for the highest 20%. When we compare average growth in incomes for the two-year recovery period from 2019-20 to 2021-22, these effects largely cancel each other out leaving little change in income inequality overall. The income of the lowest 20% grew by an average of 0.8% per year, compared with 1.3% per year for the middle 20% and 1.1% per year for the highest 20%.


Average changes in hours worked and household incomes during COVID-19

This chart shows the changes in incomes and work hours during first years of the COVID-19 pandemic. It shows that, during ‘year one’ of recovery (2020-21), average household after-tax incomes grew by an extraordinary 3.1% after inflation, much faster than average income growth since the Global Financial Crisis. This occurred despite strict COVID lockdowns and the economic uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, which reduced average paid working hours per capita by 0.5% compared to hours worked in 2019-20. During ‘year two’ (2021-22), these trends were reversed. Average household incomes declined by 0.7% after inflation despite the reduced severity of lockdowns and a solid 2.4% increase in overall paid working hours per capita.


ABC

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