Change in number of workers employed by occupation (000s)
This graph shows that, from August 2020 to August 2021 (centre bars): * The number of people employed in lower-paid occupations rose by 71,000; * The number in middle-paid occupations fell by 5,000; * The number in higher-paid occupations rose by 251,000.
Impact of past recessions on household after-tax incomes
This figure shows changes in household after-tax incomes brought about by the recessions of the early 1980s and 1990s (left and right-hand clusters).
Changes in average before-tax income of households ranked by private income March-December 2020
This graph shows that, from March 2020 to December 2020: * The average incomes of the lowest 20% income group (who mainly relied on pensions) rose by 8% ($56pw); * Those of the next 20% (mainly low-paid workers and families on income support) rose by 11% ($144pw); * The average incomes of the middle 20% rose by 3% ($53pw) and those of the next 20% rose by 2% ($67pw); * In contrast, the average incomes of the highest 20% fell by 4% ($230pw).
Change in household income (as a % of after-tax income in June 2019)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian National Accounts.
Note: Shows growth in different components of household income from June 2019 (before COVID) to June 2020 (recession), and from June 2020 to June 2021 (recovery), as a percentage of average after-tax household income in June 2019. Income tax is expressed in negative values (so a positive value means a reduction in tax). Note that the value of some components fell. Yellow = an increase would be expected to reduce inequality (more so if darker); Blue = an increase would be expected to increase inequality (more so if darker). Grey = an increase has an indeterminant impact on inequality.
This graph compares changes in the main components of household incomes in the…
Distribution of income by source (percentage of all income)
This chart shows how the distribution of income by source is distributed unevenly across the household income groups. 2019-20: The highest 20% received 59% of all investment income and a substantial share of own-business income and wages (47% and 43% respectively).. At the other end of the scale, the lowest 20% received over a third of all social security income (37%). 2017-18: The highest 20% received two-thirds of all investment income and a large share of own-business income and wages (48% and 44% respectively). At the other end of the scale, the lowest 20% receives over a third of all social security income (38%).
Average before-tax household income ($pw)
This chart shows trends in before-tax incomes for households ranked by private income from March 2020 (just prior to the COVID recession) to June 2020 (when Australia was locked down, and effective unemployment reached 17%) and December 2020 (when most lockdowns had eased and effective unemployment had declined to 7%).
It shows that, from March to December 2020, average before tax incomes:
* Rose from $685pw to $741pw for the lowest 20% of households ranked by income;
* Rose from $2,005pw to $2,058pw for the middle 20%;
* Fell from $5,182 pw to $4,952pw for the highest 20%.
These figures indicate that income inequality declined despite the recession, an extraordinary result given past experience
Timeline of the pandemic impacts and policy responses
This table shows the impacts of the pandemic in terms of restriction, employment, income support measures and the impacts on the asset market, both during the COVID recession period in 2020 and during the 2021 economic recovery period.
Mental health conditions by weekly equivalised household income
Those with lower weekly household incomes report higher levels of mental health conditions.
Heart, stroke and vascular diseases, diabetes and arthritis by main income source
Those receiving government pensions/allowances and aged under 65 reported higher levels of heart, stroke and vascular diseases, diabetes and arthritis than those whose main income was wages or salary.
Heart, stroke and vascular diseases, diabetes and arthritis by SEIFA
Those within lower socio economic indexes for areas reported higher levels of Heart, stroke and vascular diseases, diabetes and arthritis than those in higher socio economic indexes for areas (SEIFA). To find out more about SEIFA, go to https://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/censushome.nsf/home/seifa