Australia’s population by labour force status
Almost two-thirds (62%) of Australia’s adult population are employed: the majority in full-time paid work (41%), but also a significant portion (21%) in part-time jobs. Just over one-third (34%) of the adult population are not in the labour force ( mainly younger and older people), while 4% of the total adult population (as distinct from the labour force) is unemployed.
Income distribution of people in households by labour force status of household reference person
This graph shows where people are placed in the household income rankings, according to whether their household reference person (usually the member with the highest income) is employed, unemployed or not in the paid workforce. People in households where the reference person is either not in the labour force or unemployed are concentrated in the lowest 20% income group. Of all people in households where the reference person is unemployed, 77% are in the lowest 20%, along with 59% where the reference person is of working age but outside the paid workforce, and 42% where the reference person is 65 years or over and retired. On the other hand, 29% of people in households where the reference person is employed full-time are in the highest 20%. Living in a household where the reference person is employed part-time (meaning there is unlikely to be a full-time earner in the household) is no guarantee of a good household income. Of all people in these households, only 11% are found in the…
Profile of each income group by labour force status of household reference person
This graph shows the make-up of each income group according to whether their household reference person (usually the member with the highest income) is employed, unemployed or not in the paid workforce. Household members whose reference person is unemployed form a larger share of income groups as we move down the income scale. They represent 7% of the lowest 20% income group; 10% of the lowest 10% income group, and 13% of the lowest 5% income group. This is echoed in households where the reference person is of working age and is not part of the paid workforce, which comprise 28% of the lowest 20% income group, 34% of the lowest 10% income group, and 35% of the lowest 5% income group. The lowest 20% income group mainly comprises households where the reference person is out of the paid workforce: 30% where the reference person is over 64 and 28% where they are of working age. Another 20% are employed full-time, 16% are employed part-time, and the remaining 7% are unemployed. In…
Population by main source of household income
This chart shows the main sources of household income in Australia. 2019-20: Wages and salaries were the largest income source (77% of all income), followed by investment and other income (10%), social security payments, including Family Tax Benefits (8%), and own-business income (4%). 2017-18: The main source of household income is wages and salaries, at 75%. Of the remainder, 8% are social security payments, 5% self employed and 12% from other sources (mainly investments). 2015-16: For most people in Australia, the main source of household income is wages and salaries, at 69%. Of the remainder, 18% are in households relying mainly on social security payments, 5% on income from self-employment and 8% from other sources (mainly investments).
Income distribution of people in households by main income source
This graph shows where people are placed in the household income rankings, according to their household’s main source of income in 2015-16 and 2017-18. Social security payments include pensions, allowances and family payments. 2017-18: The graph shows that the highest 20% income group receives two-thirds of all investment income and a substantial share of own-business income and wages (48% and 44% respectively). At the other end of the scale, the lowest 20% receives over a third of all social security income (38%). 2015-16: The graph shows that 65% of people in households that mainly rely on social security payments are concentrated in the lowest 20% income group. In contrast, people in households relying mainly on wages or salaries are more likely to be found at the higher end of the distribution (with 51% in the highest 40% income group). Households whose main income is from an unincorporated business are more likely (27%) to belong to the lowest 20% income group. It should be…
Profile of each income group by main source of household income
This graph shows the make-up of each income group according to their household’s main source of income. The majority (60%) of people in the lowest 20% income group live in households where the main income is social security payments. However, 40% of people in that income group live in households relying mainly on other income sources, including wages (26%), own business income (6%) and ‘other income’, mainly investments (8%). Towards the higher end of the income scale, 87% of those in the highest 20% income group are in households relying mainly on earnings, and none are in households relying mainly on social security. However, even higher up the scale an increasing share of people live in households rely mainly on investment income – from 9% of the highest 20% income group, to 14% of the highest 10% income group, and 17% of the highest 5% income group.
Average net wealth, by wealth group
This graph shows the distribution of wealth by wealth groups. Wealth is distributed much less broadly than income 2017-18: The average wealth of the highest 20% wealth group is $3,255,000, more than six times that of the middle 20% who had $565,000; and over 90 times that of the lowest 20%, who had $36,000. The average wealth of the highest 5% is $6,795,000. 2015-16: The highest 20% wealth group had average wealth holdings of $2.9 million, more than five times that of the middle 20% wealth group ($537,000) and almost 100 times the $30,000 held by the lowest 20% wealth group.
Trends in average wealth by wealth group
This shows changes in the 'real value' (after inflation) of net household wealth. Wealth inequality increased more sharply than income inequality between 2003-04 and 2015-16. Click here to see the income inequality trends. The average wealth of the highest 20% wealth group rose from $1.9 million in 2003-04 to $2.6 million in 2009-10, declined to $2.4 million in 2011-12 (after the Global Financial Crisis) and rose again to $2.9 million in 2015-16. Trends in the value of wealth holdings of the remaining 80% changed much less in comparison.