6150.0.55.003 - Labour Account Australia, Quarterly Experimental Estimates, September 2017 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 10/07/2018  First Issue
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INDUSTRY ANALYSIS

Note: All estimates are in seasonally adjusted unless otherwise stated.

Agriculture, forestry and fishing

Hours actually worked increased by 2.1% in the September quarter 2017, largely driven by growth in the number of filled jobs. A record 240 million hours were worked in September 2017.

Mining

Mining recorded its third consecutive quarter of positive jobs growth in the September quarter 2017, increasing by 1.9%. There were 6,500 more filled jobs than in December 2016, when jobs decreased to their lowest level in five years of 155,100 jobs.

Manufacturing

Filled jobs increased by 1.0% in the September quarter 2017 to 873,500 jobs, the highest since December 2015. Average labour cost per hour worked continued to moderate, decreasing slightly to $46.92.

Electricity, gas, water and waste services

Secondary jobs doubled between the September quarter 2010 and the September quarter 2017. This increased the secondary job share of filled jobs for this industry from 1.7% to 2.9%.

Construction

Compensation of employees in the Construction industry increased by 2.6% in September quarter 2017 to reach $17.9 billion. This was a record high for the industry.

Wholesale trade

Total jobs for Wholesale trade fell by 2.3% in September quarter 2017, with a decrease in both filled jobs (2.3%) and vacant jobs (5.4%). The number of secondary jobs rose in September 2017 for the second consecutive quarter for this industry.

Retail trade

The number of total jobs in Retail trade was relatively flat in September quarter 2017, with a small rise in filled jobs (1.0%) partially offset by an 8.1% decrease in job vacancies. Although there was a 3.1% decrease from the previous quarter, Retail trade recorded the highest number of underutilised persons of any industry in September 2017.

Accommodation and food services

Filled jobs in Accommodation and food services rose by 2.1% in September quarter 2017, with an increase in both main jobs (1.9%) and secondary jobs (5.1%). This industry provided 9.4% of Australia’s secondary jobs this quarter, ranking third behind Administrative and support services and Health care and social assistance.

Transport, postal and warehousing

Total jobs in Transport, postal and warehousing rose by 5.8% in September quarter 2017, with an increase in both vacant jobs (10.9%) and filled jobs (5.7%). Incomes did not increase as strongly, causing the average hourly income to fall (7.7%) for the second consecutive quarter.

Information, media and telecommunications

September quarter 2017 was the third consecutive quarter the Information media and telecommunications industry experienced a drop in the total labour force (-2.0%). This coincided with the first decrease in the number of secondary jobs (8.2%) since June 2016, and the first rise in labour costs since September 2016 (1.9%).

Financial and insurance services

The Financial and insurance services industry labour force experienced its fourth consecutive rise in September quarter 2017, increasing 2.1%. This was accompanied by a 2.1% rise in hours actually worked, and a 2.1% increase in available hours of labour supply.

Rental, hiring and real estate services

Total jobs in Rental, hiring and real estate services industry rose by 2.7% in September quarter 2017. This was caused primarily by a 2.2% increase in main jobs, and was slightly offset by a decrease in job vacancies (-2.4%).

Professional, scientific and technical services

Professional, scientific and technical services saw a 3.4% rise in the labour force total in September quarter 2017, driven by a 3.4% increase in the number of employed persons. There was a drop of 1.9 million hours (8.4%) in the number of hours sought but not worked for Professional, scientific and technical services. This was consistent with the 1.2% decrease in the number of underutilised persons.

Administrative and support services

There was a drop of 2.8% in the number of filled jobs in Administrative and support services in September quarter 2017, driven by a decrease of 3.9% in the number of main jobs. The number of hours actually worked saw a 4.3% decrease in September 2017.

Public administration and safety

Public administration and safety saw significant movements in the number of underutilised persons in September quarter 2017, with a decrease of 21.4%. This coincided with a rise of 1.1% in the number of filled jobs.

Education and training

Education and training saw a 2.0% increase in filled jobs in September quarter 2017, driven by a 1.5% rise in the number of employed persons. This coincided with an increase in the number of hours worked actually worked of 0.5%.

Health care and social assistance

The Health care and social assistance industry average hourly income rose by 2.8% in September quarter 2017, placing it at a seven year industry high of $49.30 per hour. Job vacancies were also at a seven year high after rising 8.1% to 22,900 vacancies.

Arts and recreation services

The Arts and recreation services industry labour force fell for the second consecutive quarter, decreasing by 0.8% in September quarter 2017. The labour force now stands at 225,600 persons, which is 7,800 persons more than the labour force was in September 2010.

Other services

The number of filled jobs in the Other services industry continued this year's growth pattern, increasing by 0.9% in September quarter 2017. This industry also saw a rise in employed persons (1.2%), a fall in underemployed persons (11.1%) and a drop in underutilised persons (7.7%).