Household income

Why is this important?

Households on low incomes may find it difficult to meet basic household needs and cope with emergency or unanticipated expenses. Low income is associated with poor outcomes in many related areas such as employment, educational achievement, adequate housing, access to recreational activities, exposure to air pollution, nutrition, lower life expectancy, and chronic illness including mental illness. 

Key points

• Median weekly household incomes from wages and salaries in the Canterbury region were slightly below the national median in June 2018, at $1,280 compared with $1,304.

Note this is an interactive chart and you can click on the legend items to change what is shown on the graph.

Commentary

The median weekly household income in Canterbury has tended to track slightly above the national median for the past 20 years. Because this data only tracks wage and salary earners, higher levels of unemployment, as seen from 2007 as a result of the Global Financial Crisis, are not mirrored here.

The impact of a worker shortage and demands of the Christchurch rebuild post 2010-22 earthquakes, are seen in the higher levels of wages and salaries being paid through the period 2013-2015.