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This article is from the soc.culture.australian FAQ, by Stephen Wales with numerous contributions by others.

8.8.3 Economic Information: Wages, poverty level, homelessness [KH]

I recently claimed the "basic wage" in Oz was $16 per hour. (This, of
course, applies to the counter staff here at LaTrobe.) This is not
exactly correct. With recent changes (five years or so) to industrial
relations there is no real set minimum for full-time employees.
However, the following figures are authoritative (ABS and ATO for end
1992) if a little old:

Of the 7.8 million taxpayers known to the ATO ;-)

   Number  taxable income 1992
   or pct.
  
   1200    >500K
   1%      80-100K
   6.3%    50-80K
   46.1%   21-50K
   46.6%   <21K

The weighted average of these is 27.1K ($14.89 per hour); the
approximate median is 23.5K ($12.91 per hour). These figures may or
may not be accurate. According to the ABS only 5.05m people in
Australia claim NOT to be in the workforce (i.e. 71% of the
population).

The claimed average work hours are 35.3 per week; for full-time
workers 41.1 hours per week; for part-time workers 15.3 per week.
From this we can calculate the approximate fraction of the workforce
in full-time employment is 75%.

More recent figures from the start of this year put the perceived cost
of living at about $460 per week for an average family ($13 per hour)
and the average salary at $660 per week ($18.85 per hour). According
to the DSS the poverty level in Australia was set at about $255 per
week ($7.28 per hour) at end of 1992 (this is CPI indexed). An
average family with no other means of support is eligible for a total
weekly payment of $352.85 ($10 per hour). Pensions for single persons
are less.

At the end of 1991 the DSS had a total number of 8065 persons
registered for the "Homeless Benefit". During 1992 all but 1902 were
(mostly) re-classified under "Job Search/New Start". The 1902 were
thereafter allocated a "Special Benefit Allowance" that is intended
for "those people unable to support themselves or their dependents &
who are otherwise not entitled to a pension or other benefit". Many of
these recipients also receive additional rent or child support
payments. It was estimated a further 1000 persons during 1993 had no
support whatever (although they are legally entitled to it) and were
living on the streets.

The legal minimum wage in the US at end of 1992 was $3.50 US per hour
for full-time employees. There was no set minimum (in my
understanding) for part-time or casual work. The estimated number of
homeless persons in year 1993 in the US (i.e. without work and no form
of official benefit) was about 1.6 million.

 

Continue to:

• prev: 8.8.2 Economic Information: Exports [KH]
• Index
• next: 9.1.1 Geographic information

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