Public sector wages appear to be sliding backwards compared to private pay, new analysis suggests. 

Private sector wages in Australia have soared to their highest level in 15 years, while official public sector pay has remained stagnant, according to new data from the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR). 

The figures show that growth in award-based pay for the public sector remained static for new pay deals and nominally negative for existing ones. 

In contrast, private sector bargaining deals surged from 2.9 per cent in September 2022 to 3.5 per cent in December 2022, with 907 agreements containing quantifiable wage increases. 

The same measure for public sector wage increases remained at 2.3 per cent, and even slid down from 2.4 per cent in September 2022 to 2.3 per cent in December 2022.

The data is likely to increase pressure on unions to secure double-digit percentage pay increases for government workers. 

The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) has been pushing for a 20 per cent increase in the budget, but the government has played a straight bat to this figure. 

The DEWR public sector wage growth figures could make it a challenge for Minister for Finance and the Public Service Katy Gallagher to respond to the demands of the CPSU.

Some analysts say the CPSU's claim for a 20 per cent increase is looking increasingly achievable. 

The data also puts the newly elected Chris Minns Labor government in New South Wales under pressure to deliver on its promise to increase pay after it campaigned heavily on the issue.