Data reveals pay disparities and shift reductions in Australia’s hospitality sector
Gen Z faces economic pressure as pay disparities and reduced shifts highlight challenges in the hospitality industry
Deputy, the global people platform for shift work has unveiled its first Hourly Work Index report, measuring a detailed overview of shift work trends across key industries in Australia. 4.8 million shifts and 33 million hours from 656,625 Australian shift workers were analysed to create the report.
In the Hospitality sector, Deputy found significant pay disparity between generations. Generation X were the highest earners, with average pay per shift ($193.96). However, Baby Boomers earned the most per hour at $32.44.
While Millennials had an average pay per shift of $183.38 and an average hourly pay of $27.80, Generation Z earned significantly less both for average pay per shift at $159.25 and for average hourly pay of $26.94.
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This data highlights the economic pressure impacting younger workers as they enter the hospitality industry in the midst of a cost of living crisis.
The report also highlighted the current pressures on the local hospitality sector as a whole. The average number of hospitality shifts worked decreased by 6.22 percent and average hours worked dropped by 5.35 percent month on month.
Bar staff also saw a 4.4 percent decrease in the number of hours worked across June, however the average length of shifts stayed consistent.
While average pay per shift and hour increased across almost all major shift work sectors, the Deputy data indicates that shift workers are actually earning less than they did in May due to the significant decrease in the average number of shifts and hours worked.
In response to this volatility, many workers are turning to the growing trend of ‘poly-employment’, where employees take on multiple jobs across the same or different industries as a way to make ends meet.
Sarah is a freelance journalist with experience across print, digital and audio. After working for Multimedia Publishing as a contributing writer, she has recently joined the team in a part-time capacity for School News AU and AccomNews.