Median hourly earnings rose by 4.1% to $19.47 in the year to June 2009 (Figure 1). This is similar to the 3.9% growth rate recorded in the year to June 2008. The growth in median hourly earnings over the year to June 2009 was higher than consumer price inflation of 1.9% over the same period. Over the last five years, real median earnings have increased by an average of 1.9% per annum, higher than growth of around 1% per annum in labour productivity (output per hour).

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