Labour Market Assistance Industry Award 2025 Pay Rates (MA000099)

Plain-English Summary

Who does this award cover?

The Labour Market Assistance Industry Award covers employees working in the employment services and labour market assistance sector across Australia. This includes job placement consultants, employment counsellors, case managers, resume writers, disability employment consultants, youth employment officers, training coordinators, and administrative staff employed by jobactive providers, Workforce Australia providers, Disability Employment Services (DES) providers, and other government-contracted employment services organisations.

If you work for an employment services provider helping jobseekers find work, delivering employment programs, or providing career counselling, this award likely applies to you. The industry employs thousands of workers across hundreds of provider sites nationwide.

The award does NOT cover employees of Centrelink or Services Australia (covered by the APS Enterprise Award), or employees of registered training organisations whose primary function is delivering training courses (who may be covered by the Educational Services Post-Secondary Award).

How classification levels work

Classification levels range from Level 1 (entry-level administrative support -- reception, data entry, filing) through to Level 6 (senior manager, regional coordinator, specialist program designer). Case managers and employment consultants are typically classified at Level 3 or 4, depending on their experience, qualifications, and the complexity of their caseload.

What about part-time and casual workers?

Part-time employees receive the same hourly rate as full-time employees on a pro-rata basis. Casual and sessional employees receive a 25% loading on the base hourly rate. Sessional employees are those engaged for specific programs or workshops on an as-needed basis.

Classification Levels and Base Rates

All rates effective 1 July 2025. Source: Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review 2024-25.

Hourly rate = weekly rate / 38. Casual rate = hourly rate x 1.25.

Penalty Rates

All penalties are calculated on the base hourly rate.

Full-Time and Part-Time Employees

Casual and Sessional Employees

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the ordinary hours for employment services staff?

Ordinary hours are a maximum of 38 per week, or an average of 38 per week over a roster cycle of up to 4 weeks. The standard span of hours is 7:00am to 7:00pm Monday to Friday. Many employment services providers operate extended hours to accommodate jobseekers, so early morning and evening work attract specific penalties -- 110% before 7:00am and 115% after 7:00pm.

2. Do case managers get paid extra for Saturday appointments?

Yes. If your employer rosters you to meet jobseekers on a Saturday, you receive 150% of your base rate for all hours worked. Sunday work attracts 200%. These penalty rates apply whether you are seeing clients face-to-face, conducting phone appointments, or completing administrative tasks on the weekend.

3. What is the difference between casual and sessional employment?

Both casual and sessional employees receive a 25% loading on the base rate. The key difference is that sessional employees are typically engaged for specific programs or workshop sessions (for example, running a 3-hour job readiness workshop), while casual employees may be engaged for general duties on an irregular basis. Both have the same minimum engagement requirements and penalty rate structures.

4. Are disability employment consultants classified higher than standard job placement officers?

It depends on the role requirements. Disability employment consultants who carry complex caseloads, hold specialist qualifications (such as a Certificate IV in Disability), and exercise significant independent judgement are typically classified at Level 4 or above. Standard employment consultants with less complex caseloads may be classified at Level 3. The classification is based on the actual duties, qualifications, and level of responsibility.

5. What is the minimum engagement for casual employment services workers?

Casual employees must be engaged for a minimum of 3 consecutive hours per shift. At Level 3 casual rate ($35.30/hr), the minimum payment for any casual shift is $105.90 gross. Sessional employees engaged to deliver specific workshops or programs also have a 3-hour minimum engagement.

Check Your Rate

Not sure if you are being paid correctly? Use our free pay rate calculator to check your exact rate based on your classification level, employment type, and the hours you work.

Check your pay rate now

Enter your details and get an instant breakdown of what you should be earning -- including penalty rates, early/late work loadings, and casual rates. Every result cites the specific award clause so you can verify it yourself.

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Rates current as of 1 July 2025. Source: Fair Work Commission, CC BY 4.0. This information is general in nature and is not legal advice. Always verify rates against the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) at calculate.fairwork.gov.au.