Infometrics economist Brad Olsen said it was likely pay increases would continue, they would not cover every sector. The public sector is still facing a pay freeze. “There is pressure across the wider labour market now for wage rises.” He said there were now four industries paying more than an average $40 an hour – financial and insurance services; electricity, gas, water and waste services, info media and telecoms, and public administration and safety. Six industries paid below the average, and two had noticeably lower wages. Accommodation and food services workers earned the least of all industries, with $24.22/hour on average – just 70 per cent of the economy-wide average. Retail trade workers earned $25.62/hour (74 per cent of the economy-wide average), before a considerable jump up to the third-lowest industry (arts, recreation, and other services, at 91 per cent of the economy-wide average).