Public servants and manufacturing workers get biggest pay increases

PUBLIC servants and manufacturing workers have enjoyed the biggest pay increases in the past six months, despite huge job losses and a soaring budget deficit.

Growing divide ... the gap between the public and private sector earnings increasing from

PUBLIC servants and manufacturing workers have enjoyed the biggest pay increases in the past six months, despite massive job losses and a ballooning budget deficit.

Treasurer Joe Hockey’s calls for the end of the “age of entitlement” are also being ignored, with the gap between the public and private sector earnings increasing from $203 to $208 per week.

Workers in public administration and safety, who are mostly public servants, got pay increases that were higher than those in the mining sector.

The figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics also show the average Australian full-time worker is now making $1498.70 up 3.1 per cent from last year.

Truck drivers, real estate agents, plumbers and couriers were the big losers, with wages in their industries going backwards.

Top wages growth: May-November 2013

Public administration and safety: 3.35 per cent

Manufacturing: 3.13 per cent

Mining: 1.9 per cent

Professional, scientific and technical services: 1.41 per cent

Lowest

Electricity, gas, water and waste services: -0.18 per cent

Rental, hiring and real estate services: -1.3 per cent

Wholesale trade -2.13 per cent

Transport, postal and warehousing: -2.43 per cent

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