A dominant trend in the Australian labour market is for differences in earnings and employment opportunities to widen across labour market groups. Real wages and employment of unskilled males are falling and the earnings of the more educated and highly skilled are increasing.
Regional inequalities are wider than at any other time in the past two decades.
Australia is not alone in experiencing these changes. Most of these trends are evident in other English-speaking countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand. This Conference documented the changes that are occurring in Australia and adds new dimensions to the Australian discussion. The Conference concluded with a Policy Forum that discussed the possible responses to these widespread changes. Family Income Inequality in Australia Nick Pappas Henderson Research Fellow, CSES, Victoria University 2.