Employment in Australia

Chef shortage in WA

Source: Stateline WA
www.abc.net.au
Published: Friday, February 19, 2010 11:02 AEDT
Expires: Thursday, May 20, 2010 11:02 AEDT
A labour shortage is being experienced in the hospitality industry, with chefs and other kitchen workers being poached by mining and resources catering companies.

This information provided by: www.visa-go.com

British Migrants Average Wage

At the time of the 2006 Census, the median individual weekly income for Australians aged 15 years and over was $488 per week.

The median individual weekly income for the United Kingdom-born in Australia was $506.

More at: www.immi.gov.au/.../uk.htm

Comparison of Australian and UK wage and tax rates

These figures were taken from Tax calculators in both countries in July 2009.

Average Earners

Based on the average/median Male Full time earnings for each country.

   UK              Aus    
£2,250.00     $5,500.00  Gross
£  342.08     $1,222.00  Tax
£  195.11     $   82.50  Medicare/NI
£  437.20     $1,304.50  Total Deductions

Total deductions as a percentage of gross earnings
23.9% UK 
23.7% Aus 


Note: An extra, non taxable, $495 will also be paid by the Australian employer, as a super fund contribution.

Medium High Paid

Based on 2.5 times the average/median Male Full time earnings for each country.

   UK               Aus    
£5,644.00     $13,808.00  Gross
£1,418.43     $ 4,411.00  Tax
£  369.68     $   207.12  Medicare/NI
£1,788.11     $ 4,618.12  Total Deductions

Total deductions as a percentage of gross earnings
31.7% UK 
33.4% Aus 


Note: An extra, non taxable, $1,242 will also be paid by the Australian employer, as a super fund contribution.

High Paid

Based on 4.4 times the average/median Male Full time earnings for each country.

   UK               Aus    
£10,000.00     $24,500.00  Gross
£ 3,160.83     $ 9,299.00  Tax
£   413.24     $   367.50  Medicare/NI
£ 3,574.07     $ 9,666.50  Total Deductions

Total deductions as a percentage of gross earnings
35.7% UK 
39.5% Aus 


Note: An extra, non taxable, $2,205 will also be paid by the Australian employer, as a super fund contribution.

Source data

These comparison income figures are based on average earnings of both countries at April/May 2008

• Median earnings of full-time male employees was £521 per week in April 2008 (£27,092 pa)
  http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=285
  
• Average earnings of full-time male employees was $1,274.60 in May 2008 ($66,279 pa)
  http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/6302.0?OpenDocument
  

The tax calculations are taken from:

• UK: http://listentotaxman.com
  
• Aus: http://www.ato.gov.au/scripts/taxcalc/calculate_tax.asp
  

Salary Packaging

Some employers offer Salary packaging as an incentive in their employment conditions.

This basically allows you to pay less tax than normal.

eg: $100,000 per year normal salary would attract Tax/Medicare of $27,500 per year (2008/2009 rates), leaving you with $72,500 per year net.

With $1,000 per month set as Salary package items, the gross salary would become $88,000 with Tax/Medicare of $22,520 per year (2008/2009 rates), leaving you with $77,480 per year net, after adding back the Salary package benefits paid for you.

ie: Almost $5,000 per year better off..

What age can Children start work

In Queensland, the regulation is that 13 years of age is the general minimum for children starting work, although delivery work such as newspapers and advertising leaflets, can be done by children from the age of 11 years.

• Most shops would not employ anyone under 15 though.
  
• Parental consent is required for school-aged and young children to work.
  
• Children are not allowed to work when they should be at school.
  
  • www.wageline.qld.gov.au/.../starting_work.html

Harvest Picking Work

Not for everyone, but some people like to travel a bit at first, young couples or singles, and harvest picking is a pretty common way to earn some money while traveling.

The Australian Government has a web page specifically for this:

• http://jobsearch.gov.au/harvesttrail/default.aspx