Need For High Skill/High Wage Approach Grows

"Results of an EMA survey released today highlight again the need for more
investment in skill," said Council of Trade Unions secretary, Paul Goulter
today.76% of employers surveyed by the Employers and Manufacturers Association
expect to take on more staff.

"As consensus grows around the call for a high skill approach, there also
has to be acknowledgement of the need for higher wages," said Paul Goulter.

"Although the survey shows average wage increases of around 3.8%, the recent Labour Labour Cost Index shows that figure drops to just over 2% annuallywhen it includes workers who did not get any wage increase in the 12 month period surveyed."

Paul Goulter said our pay rates lagged around 26% behind Australian rates.

"After years of low increases, we will not see the increases in skills
without a sustained period of real wage increase," he said.

Paul Goulter said it was good to see from the survey results that increases
in wage levels did not deter employers from taking on new staff.