1367.5 - Western Australian Statistical Indicators, Mar 2004
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 07/07/2004
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Feature Article - The impact of migration on Western Australia's population MIGRATION INTO AND OUT OF AUSTRALIA - 2003 MEASURES OF MIGRATION Migration changes Australia's population distribution and impacts on population growth at the state and territory, and regional level. Interstate migration is the most volatile component of population change in each state and territory as it depends on many factors such as varying economic opportunities, overseas immigration and settlement patterns, and lifestyle choices. It is also the most difficult component to measure as the movement of people between states and territories is unrestricted and not systematically captured in any data collection. TABLE 1: COMPONENTS OF POPULATION CHANGE(a)
Quarterly and annual estimates of Australia's population are derived by adjusting the base population, provided by the five yearly Census of Population and Housing, with subsequent births and deaths, and overseas and interstate migration. There is no single data source available to provide reliable estimates of interstate migration. While the census collects the usual residence of people on census night and their usual residence one and five years previously, these figures are not available for intercensal years and census data provide no indication of the number of moves made by individuals in the intercensal period. However, 2001 census data indicate that almost 5% of the population aged 5 years and over had moved interstate since 1996. Since 1986, quarterly interstate migration estimates have been derived from Medicare change of address records, supplied by the Health Insurance Commission. Census data are used to adjust these estimates for under-reporting of males aged 16-29 years and females aged 18-24 years. Overseas migration is collected from Incoming and Outgoing Passenger cards completed at Australian air and sea ports. Net overseas migration refers to the net permanent and long-term overseas migration, adjusted for changes in traveller duration intention and errors associated with multiple movements during long-term stays or absences. INTERSTATE MIGRATION Western Australia's net interstate migration has fluctuated over the past 20 years, peaking at 9,400 in 1986 and declining to its largest net loss of 4,400 in 2001. Despite the longer term trend of moderate net interstate gains, Western Australia has, over the past four years, experienced a net loss in interstate migration. Net interstate migration losses were also recorded during 1991, 1992 and 1993, although not of the same magnitude as in the past four years. After 1993, net interstate migration increased to 5,100 in 1995 before again declining to a loss of 4,200 in 2002. In 2003, this loss had reduced to 2,800 people. INTERSTATE ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES BY STATE AND TERRITORY Despite fluctuations between years, the number of people departing Western Australia has steadily increased over the past 16 years, reaching 33,700 during 2003. In 2003, people were most likely to move to Queensland (27%), Victoria (25%) and New South Wales (23%) and least likely to move to the Australian Capital Territory (3%) and Tasmania (5%). The number of people moving to Western Australia reached 34,700 in 1997. Since 1989, more people have moved to Western Australia from New South Wales than any other state or territory. In 2003, most arrivals to Western Australia came from New South Wales (27%), Victoria (24%) and Queensland (22%), lesser numbers came from the Australian Capital Territory (3%) and Tasmania (5%). CHARACTERISTICS OF INTERSTATE MOVERS SEX The proportion of males and females migrating interstate has remained fairly stable over the past 16 years. The proportion of people departing Western Australia who were male, peaked at 55% in the period 1989 to 1991 and declined to 51% from 2002 onwards. Similarly, males accounted for 54% of all arrivals to Western Australia in 1987. This proportion declined to 51% in 2003. AGE Estimates of interstate migration have only been available by age since 1998. Since this time, interstate migration in the 25-64 year age group has made up 56% of departures and arrivals, followed by children (0-14 years) and young people (15-24 years) which have both averaged 21% of departures and arrivals over the same period. REGION In the 2001 census there were notable differences in the interstate movements (in the previous 12 months) between people from Perth and the balance of the state. Those departing from Perth were most likely to move to Victoria (29%), followed by New South Wales (28%) and Queensland (21%), while those departing from the balance of the state were most likely to move to Queensland (30%), followed by New South Wales (22%) and Victoria (18%). For those people moving to Perth they were most likely to move from New South Wales (31%), Victoria (24%) and Queensland (19%). As with people moving from the balance of State, people arriving into the balance of Western Australia were mostly likely to come from Queensland (28%), New South Wales (21%) and Victoria (17%). EMPLOYMENT STATUS The interstate arrivals and departures from Western Australia have shown a fairly similar pattern in terms of employment status. The number of people arriving in Western Australia who were employees has decreased slightly between 1996 and 2001 from 58% of all arrivals to 56%. Similarly, the percentage of arrivals who were unemployed has also dropped between 1996 and 2001 (13% and 11% respectively). This has been matched by a small increase in the percentage of persons arriving who were not in the labour force, 26% in 1996 and 28% in 2001. In terms of departures, there is very little difference in the percentages between 1996 and 2001. The largest difference was in the percentage of unemployed persons departing, 14% in 1996 compared with 12% in 2001. INDUSTRY Comparisons of net migration data from the 1996 and 2001 censuses show that there are some marked differences across industries. In 1996, with the exception of the Finance and Insurance and Culture and Recreation industries, all industries had positive net migration. However, in 2001 this trend has been reversed with almost all industries showing a net loss of migrants out of Western Australia. The Mining industry was the only industry which still had a large net migration into Western Australia, although this had dropped significantly since 1996. The only other industries to show small net gains in 2001 were Construction and Health and Community Services. The largest turnarounds, in terms of net migration, between 1996 and 2001 were in the Property and Business Services, Manufacturing and Government Administration industries. OCCUPATION In 1996, Western Australia experienced a net gain across all the occupation groups. In 2001, this trend was reversed with all occupations, with the exceptions of Intermediate Production and Transport and Advanced Clerical and Service workers, showing a net loss of migrants out of Western Australia. The largest net loss was experienced in the Professional occupation group. This occupation group experienced a net gain of 370 persons in 1996 and a net loss of 470 persons in 2001. Tradespersons and Related Workers, which had the largest net gain in 1996 (730 persons), had one of the smaller net losses in 2001 (110 persons). OVERSEAS MIGRATION Western Australia's net overseas migration has fluctuated widely over the past 20 years, rising from 4,300 (9% of Australia's net overseas migration) in 1984 to 20,800 (14% of Australia's net overseas migration) in 1988 then falling to 17,300 in 2002. Arrivals ranged from 16,000 in 1984 to 36,100 in 2001, while departures ranged from 9,400 in 1986 to 21,300 in 2002. CHARACTERISTICS OF OVERSEAS SETTLERS INDUSTRY In both the 1996 and 2001 censuses, people who had arrived in Western Australia from overseas during the previous 5 years were most likely to be employed within the Manufacturing, Property and Business Services, Retail Trade and Health and Community Services industries. Between 1996 and 2001, the Property and Business Services industry showed the largest increase (39%). In contrast employment within the Cultural and Recreational Services industry decreased 12% for overseas migrants. OCCUPATION In both the 1996 and 2001 censuses, people who had arrived in Western Australia from overseas during the previous 5 years were most likely to be employed within the Professional occupation group. Between 1996 and 2001, this group showed the largest increase in the number of overseas migrants (30%). In contrast, the number of Tradespersons and Related Workers and Advanced Clerical and Service Workers decreased by 7% and 6% respectively. TYPE OF OVERSEAS SETTLERS The Department of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs collects information regarding the migration stream of settlers to Australia. In the year ending 30 June 2000, 11,500 persons had settled in Western Australia from overseas. The majority of these settlers (8,400 persons or 73%) arrived as part of the migration program; with skill migration comprising 6,500 persons (57%) and 1,900 (16%) under the family migration program. The humanitarian program accounted for 850 persons (7%) of all overseas migrants. The non program migration category accounted for 20% of all overseas migrants and New Zealanders comprised the vast majority (2,200 persons or 96%) who arrived under this category. Table 2 shows the occupations which had the largest number of people entering Western Australia through the Skill Migration Program. The Managers and Administrators and Professional occupation groups had the largest numbers of people. TABLE 2: OVERSEAS MIGRATION: Skills Migration Program - 2000-01
CONCLUSION Western Australia has continued to experience population growth despite recording a net loss of people as a result of interstate migration. This net loss has been more than compensated by natural increase and overseas migration. Data from the 1996 census shows that Western Australia experienced a net gain in population across almost all industry and occupation groups. This trend was reversed in 2001, when data from the 2001 census showed that the movement of people out of Western Australia was spread across most industries and occupations. However, much of the loss to other states and territories has been offset by overseas migrants who have moved into those occupations, particularly in managerial and professional occupations, which experienced some of the largest losses due to the movement of people out of Western Australia. RELATED PUBLICATIONS Australian Demographic Statistics (cat. no. 3101.0). Census of Population and Housing: Population Growth and Distribution, 2001 (cat. no. 2035.0). Demography Working Paper 1999/2 – Estimating Interstate Migration, 1996-2001. Migration, Australia, 2000-01 and 2001-02 (cat. no. 3412.0). Population Projections Australia, 2002-2101 (cat. no. 3222.0). PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION OF "THE IMPACT OF MIGRATION ON WESTERN AUSTRALIA'S POPULATION"
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