Annual Wage Review 2024-25 — $24.10/hr NMW

Fair Work Commission decision [2024] FWCFB 3500 (Annual Wage Review 2023-24), handed down June 2024, effective 1 July 2024.

What was the 2024-25 Annual Wage Review decision?

The Fair Work Commission's 2024-25 Annual Wage Review decision, handed down June 2024 ([2024] FWCFB 3500 (Annual Wage Review 2023-24)), lifted the National Minimum Wage by 3.75% to $24.10/hr ($915.91 for a 38-hour week) and modern award minimum rates by 3.75%, effective 1 July 2024.

3.75% uniform increase across NMW and modern award minimum rates. Maintained the alignment of NMW with the C13 classification of the Manufacturing Award (set the year before). Some awards were adjusted off-cycle as work-value cases continued.

The Panel's reasoning

• The Panel found the relative living standards of award-reliant employees had improved modestly, but cost-of-living pressure remained acute for low-paid workers.
• Productivity had been flat over the year, limiting the room for above-inflation increases without flow-on inflation risk.
• Care economy and feminised industries received a separate work-value case uplift in parallel (decided in 2022 and being phased in).
• The 3.75% increase was below the previous year's 5.75% award rise, reflecting the Panel's view that inflation was moderating.

Economic context

Annual CPI was 3.6% to March 2024; trimmed-mean inflation 4.0%. The Panel weighs CPI, labour-market conditions, productivity, relative living standards of award-reliant employees, and submissions from the Federal Government, ACTU, ACCI, ABI and Australian Industry Group when reaching its decision.

Who decided this?

The expert panel of the Fair Work Commission, chaired by President Adam Hatcher, with Vice President Asbury, Deputy President Wright, Commissioner Hampton, expert panel. The expert panel meets between March and May each year, hears submissions, and publishes its determination in early June.

What this meant for your pay

If you were paid the National Minimum Wage in 2024-25, your gross weekly pay for a 38-hour week was $915.91 (up from the previous $23.23/hr rate). If you were paid a modern award rate, your minimum hourly rate rose by 3.75% from the previous year.

If you were paid above the award minimum, your employer was not required to pass on the wage review increase — though many do, particularly where the award rate has now caught up to your above-award rate.

To calculate the exact impact on your pay, use the Annual Wage Review impact calculator or ask FairWork Mate AI about your specific award and classification.

Source

Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review 2024-25 decision, [2024] FWCFB 3500 (Annual Wage Review 2023-24). Full decision available at fwc.gov.au/annual-wage-review.