6105.0 - Australian Labour Market Statistics, Oct 2004  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 01/10/2004   
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FEATURE ARTICLE - CHANGES IN TYPES OF EMPLOYMENT
FEATURE ARTICLE -MATURE AGE PEOPLE AND THE LABOUR FORCE

NOTES

DATA CONTAINED IN THIS ISSUE

The statistics shown are the latest available at 23 September 2004. Data sources for the tables in this publication are listed in Appendix 1.



ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS

The spreadsheets and data cubes referenced in this publication are available on the ABS web site at <https://www.abs.gov.au> [AusStats - Publications and Data], then [Data Cubes] or [Time Series Spreadsheets].



INQUIRIES

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or the Assistant Director, Labour Market, on Canberra (02) 6252 7636.



LABOUR STATISTICS NEWS


RELEASE OF UPDATES TO CONCEPTS, SOURCES AND METHODS

Labour Statistics: Concepts, Sources and Methods is being updated. The current paper publication (cat. no. 6102.0) will not be rereleased. However, the web version (cat. no. 6102.0.55.001), which is available via the Labour Theme Page or the Statistical Concepts Library, is being updated on an ongoing basis. On August 26, the following chapters were updated: 6, 7, 19, 20.4, 20.5, 20.13, 20.17, 23, 29 and 30. Additional chapters will be updated later in 2004, and these will be announced in subsequent issues of this publication.



LABOUR THEME PAGE

The ABS Labour Theme Page, available on the ABS web site, provides a guide to the range of ABS statistics on the labour market, as well as links to the latest data released. To find the Theme Page, go to the ABS home page, then [Themes - People - Labour].



QUESTIONNAIRES USED IN THE LABOUR FORCE SURVEY

Information Paper: Questionnaires Used in the Labour Force Survey (cat. no. 6232.0), released on 26 August 2004, provides details of the latest Labour Force Survey questionnaire. Included are definitions, guidelines to following the questionnaire, and a copy of the questionnaire.



IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPUTER ASSISTED INTERVIEWING

In October 2003, the ABS began the progressive implementation of computer assisted interviewing (CAI) into the Labour Force Survey (LFS). The implementation of CAI is now complete, with 100% of interviews conducted in August 2004 using CAI.


During the implementation period, the ABS conducted a range of analyses on each month's data. These analyses confirmed that the change in interview method has not materially affected the aggregate estimates for any month.



RECENTLY RELEASED SOCIAL SURVEYS

Results from the 2002 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey were released on 23 June 2004. Final estimates from the 2003 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers were released on 15 September 2004.



ANZSIC 2006 DEVELOPMENT

The Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) will be updated for use in the 2006 Census. Information Paper: ANZSIC 2006 Development (cat. no. 1294.0) presents information on the revised ANZSIC 2006 development. It is a useful reference for users as it provides an overview of the history of ANZSIC, rationale for the review, conceptual basis of the new classification, the new division structure, and the impact of the changes on ABS data. It also contains information on future developments such as communication strategy and critical dates for the implementation of ANZSIC 2006.



SUPPLEMENTARY SURVEYS ON LABOUR TOPICS

The Monthly Population Survey comprises the Labour Force Survey and a range of supplementary surveys, which provide detailed information on a range of topics. Results from the survey on labour mobility were recently released in Labour Mobility, Australia (cat. no. 6209.0).



THE ABS WEB SITE HAS CHANGED

From 28 August 2004, changes are being made to the ABS web site. This is being done to improve:

  • navigation - how you get from A to B on the web site and how you find information;
  • search - helping you to find the information you require;
  • design - faster, efficient download time and greater consistency; and
  • terminology - to make it easier for you to understand our information.

The only area of the web site that has not yet been changed is AusStats - it will be updated later in the year to reflect the new design. Changes to the rest of the site will not affect the use of AusStats.

Recent and upcoming statistical releases

Release date/title of publication
Reference period
Catalogue number

September 2004
Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia: Summary of Findings
2003
4430.0
Family Characteristics, Australia
June 2003
4442.0
Industrial Disputes, Australia
June quarter 2004
6321.0.55.001
Job Vacancies, Australia
August 2004
6354.0
Labour Force, Australia
August 2004
6202.0
Labour Force, Australia, Detailed - Electronic Delivery
August 2004
6291.0.55.001
Wage and Salary Earners, Public Sector, Australia
June quarter 2004
6248.0.55.001
October 2004
Australian Labour Market Statistics
October 2004
6105.0
Information Paper: 2006 Census of Population and Housing, ABS Views on Census Output Strategy
2006
2009.0
Labour Force, Australia
September 2004
6202.0
Labour Force, Australia, Detailed - Electronic Delivery
September 2004
6291.0.55.001
November 2004
2006 Census of Population and Housing: Nature and Content
2006
2008.0
Average Weekly Earnings, Australia
August 2004
6302.0
Household Income and Income Distribution, Australia
2002-03
6523.0
Labour Force, Australia
October 2004
6202.0
Labour Force, Australia, Detailed - Electronic Delivery
October 2004
6291.0.55.001
Labour Price Index, Australia (formerly Wage Cost Index)
September quarter 2004
6345.0
December 2004
Education and Work, Australia
May 2004
6227.0
Employee Earnings and Hours, Australia, Preliminary
May 2004
6305.0.55.001
Industrial Disputes, Australia
September quarter 2004
6321.0.55.001
Labour Force, Australia
November 2004
6202.0
Labour Force, Australia, Detailed - Electronic Delivery
November 2004
6291.0.55.001
Labour Price Index: Concepts, Sources and Methods
2004
6351.0.55.001
Work in Selected Culture and Leisure Activities, Australia
April 2004
6281.0
January 2005
Australian Labour Market Statistics
January 2005
6105.0
Job Search Experience, Australia
July 2004
6222.0
Job Vacancies, Australia
November 2004
6354.0
Labour Force, Australia
December 2004
6202.0
Labour Force, Australia, Detailed - Electronic Delivery
December 2004
6291.0.55.001
Wage and Salary Earners, Public Sector, Australia
September quarter 2004
6248.0.55.001
Year Book Australia
2005
1301.0



LABOUR MARKET SUMMARY


KEY MEASURES

% change from
Measure
Series type
Period
Current figure
Previous quarter(a)
Previous year(b)

Employed
Persons'000
Trend
Aug 2004
9,663.6
0.1
2.1
Full-time'000
Trend
Aug 2004
6,942.7
0.4
2.7
Part-time'000
Trend
Aug 2004
2,720.9
-0.6
0.5
Part-time employment as a proportion of total employment%
Trend
Aug 2004
28.2
(c)-0.2
(c)-0.4
Unemployed
Persons'000
Trend
Aug 2004
576.4
0.4
-4.9
Looking for full-time work'000
Trend
Aug 2004
414.5
-1.3
-7.8
Looking for part-time work'000
Trend
Aug 2004
162.0
5.2
3.3
Unemployment rate
Persons%
Trend
Aug 2004
5.6
(c)0.0
(c)-0.4
Long-term unemployment
Persons'000
Trend
Aug 2004
119.5
-0.1
-8.0
As a proportion of total unemployment%
Trend
Aug 2004
20.7
(c)-0.1
(c)-0.7
Annual labour underutilisation rates(d)
Long-term unemployment rate%
Original
Sep 2003
1.3
na
(c)-0.1
Unemployment rate%
Original
Sep 2003
5.9
na
(c)-0.5
Underemployment rate%
Original
Sep 2003
5.6
na
(c)-0.2
Labour force underutilisation rate%
Original
Sep 2003
11.5
na
(c)-0.6
Extended labour force underutilisation rate%
Original
Sep 2003
12.5
na
(c)-0.7
Children living without an employed parent(e)%
Original
Jun 2004
17.2
na
(c)0.1
Labour force participation rate
Persons%
Trend
Aug 2004
63.5
(c)-0.1
(c)0.1
Actual hours worked
Aggregate weekly hoursmill. hours
Original
Aug 2004
332.6
-0.4
2.5
Average weekly hours - Personshours
Original
Aug 2004
34.7
0.3
0.5
Average weekly hours - Full-timehours
Original
Aug 2004
41.9
-0.2
-0.1
Average weekly hours - Part-timehours
Original
Aug 2004
16.7
1.4
2.0
Part-time workers
Proportion who preferred to work more hours%
Original
Aug 2004
26.1
(c)0.3
(c)0.8
Wage cost index
Total hourly rates of pay excluding bonusesindex no.
Trend
Jun qtr 2004
124.6
0.8
3.5
Average weekly earnings
Full-time adult ordinary time earnings$
Trend
May 2004
952.5
0.7
3.8
All employees total earnings$
Trend
May 2004
751.9
0.4
3.7
Compensation of employees
Household income account$m
Trend
Jun qtr 2004
96,986.0
1.6
5.7
Average earnings (National Accounts basis - nominal) per week$
Trend
Jun qtr 2004
899.0
0.6
3.3
Industrial disputes
Working days lost'000
Original
Jun qtr 2004
152.9
90.2
175.6
Working days lost per 1,000 employeesnumber
Original
Jun qtr 2004
18.2
87.5
168.6
Job vacancies
Australia'000
Trend
May 2004
123.6
9.2
16.6

na not available
(a) Same period previous quarter (monthly data is presented for the middle month of each quarter).
(b) Same period previous year.
(c) Change is in percentage points.
(d) See table 4.1 or the Glossary for further explanation of labour underutilisation rates.
(e) As a proportion of all children aged under 15 years. See the Explanatory Notes for information on family data.



EMPLOYMENT: TREND SERIES

Full-time and total employment
Graph: Trend full-time and total employment
Males and females
Graph: Trend employment for males and females




PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT: TREND SERIES
Proportion of total employment, Males
Graph: Trend male part-time employment as a proportion of total male employment
Proportion of total employment, Females
Graph: Trend female part-time employment as a proportion of total female employment




UNEMPLOYMENT RATE: TREND SERIES
Males and females
Graph: Trend unemployment rate for males and females




LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYMENT: TREND SERIES
Proportion of total unemployment
Graph: Long-term unemployment as a proportion of total unemployment, males and females




UNDERUTILISED LABOUR
Labour underutilisation rates - 1994-2003
Graph: Labour underutilisation rates—1994–2003




PARTICIPATION RATE: TREND SERIES
Persons
Graph: Trend participation rate
Males
Graph: Trend participation rate of males
Females
Graph: Trend participation rate of females




WAGE COST INDEX: TREND SERIES
Total hourly rates of pay excluding bonuses, Quarterly change
Graph: Total hourly rates of pay excluding bonuses Quarterly change




AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS: TREND SERIES
Full-time adult ordinary time earnings, Quarterly change
Graph: Quarterly change in full-time adult ordinary time earnings
All employees total earnings, Level
Graph: All employees total earnings, level




INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES: ORIGINAL SERIES
Working days lost, Quarter ending
Graph: Working days lost Quarter ending




JOB VACANCIES: TREND SERIES
Job vacancies, By sector
Graph: Job vacancies by sector