The number of payroll jobs in Australia increased by 6.0% in the two-week period ended 17 September 2022, when compared to the same period a year ago, according to research from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The research also found that the number of payroll jobs grew by 0.4% between the weeks ending 3 and 17 September 2022.

A payroll job is a relationship between an employee and their employing enterprise, where the employee is paid in the reference week through STP-enabled (Single Touch Payroll, an Australian government initiative to reduce employers' reporting burdens to government agencies) payroll or accounting software and reported to the ATO (Australian Tax Office).

At the same time, total wages paid also increased by 6.0% when compared to the same period a year ago. Total wages increased by 1.4% between the weeks ending 3 and 17 September 2022. Total wages are gross amounts, prior to taxation and deductions.

Over the year, the Australian Capital Territory (11.6%) recorded the biggest increase in payroll jobs.

By industry, Arts and recreation services recorded the biggest increase (33.1%) over the year in payroll jobs.

New South Wales (8.7%) recorded the biggest year-on-year increase in total wages while Accommodation and food services (30.8%), was the industry that recorded the biggest annual increase in total wages.