Fair Work Commission

Overview

Fair Work Commission staff may conduct or commission research as part of the annual wage review. The research program for the Annual Wage Review 2019–20 (2019–20 Review) was finalised in a Statement on 10 December 2019 following an invitation to interested parties to submit proposals ([2019] FWCFB 3500] at para. 464) and comment on the draft research program.

This page will be updated throughout the review.

In undertaking the research program, a Minimum Wages Research Group is consulted comprising representatives nominated by:

• Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI)
• Australian Industry Group (Ai Group)
• Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS)
• Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU)
• Australian Government
• state and territory governments.

Research published for the 2019–20 Review

In addition to research projects, a Statistical report and Research reference list are also published for annual wage reviews. This material will be updated throughout the 2019–20 Review.

Prevalence and persistence of low-paid award-reliant employment

Roger Wilkins and Federico Zilio (Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research)

This report provides an analysis of the characteristics of award-reliant employees and how they compare with low-paid employees. In determining low-paid employees, the research considers various data sources and thresholds of low pay. The report also provides analysis on the proportion of employees that are both low paid and award reliant, their household circumstances, and their labour market transitions.

Budget standards: international measures and approaches

Ben Brocchi and Maverick De Leon (Fair Work Commission)

The 2018–19 Review decision stated that the Panel sees merit in research addressing how budget standards can be appropriately updated and to consider methods that can advance this area of research for future Reviews.  This report reviews and summarises approaches to budget standards in other countries. The countries selected for the report comprise advanced economies similar to Australia.

Modern Awards Database: an introduction

Grant Ellis and Naomi Hayler (Fair Work Commission)

This brief report provides an overview of the Commission’s Modern Award Database (database). The database contains wages, expense allowances and penalties related to all modern awards and is intended to be made publicly available in the second half of 2020.

Accessing ABS data sources

The Commission is engaging with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to explore opportunities to use and link various data sources to undertake research topics relevant to the minimum wages and modern awards objectives. Research proposals and expectant projects will be communicated in due course.

Previous research

Research material from past annual wage reviews is available.

Go to a complete list of previous research.