6601.3 - Research Paper: Workplace Functions in Regional Labour Markets, Queensland , 1976 to 2001  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 14/01/2005   
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MEDIA RELEASE

January 14, 2005
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
08/2005
Queenslanders, in all regions, are most likely to work in the office
Media Note: The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Where quoted or used, they should be clearly attributed to the authors, Lynne Peterson, Tracy Burns and Mark Chalmers.

'Office work' was the main employment area for Queenslanders in 2001 employing 670,550 people (43% of employed persons).

'Office workers' have also become more highly educated with 16% of the workforce now having a degree or higher level of education compared to 3% in 1976.

These figures from an Australian Bureau of Statistics research paper published today provide a snapshot of workers in regional Queensland since 1976. In 2001, in all 10 study regions the 'office' was the place where most people worked.

The number of people working in the 'retail/personal services' industry has jumped to 21% of employed persons, up from 12% in 1976.

While the proportion of people working in 'farm/mine' industries fell across all Queensland regions (from 8% in 1976 to 4% in 2001), they were still very significant workplaces for men.

Women in rural areas were more often involved in providing services, often in retail outlets, hospitals or schools. Women working in 'retail/personal services' outside South East Queensland increased threefold to 60,000 jobs from 1976 to 2001.

Other regional results include:
  • 'Managers' in the Wide Bay-Burnett Statistical Division recorded the highest average age in 2001 (46 years); the youngest were 'retail service' workers in the Northern Statistical Division (e.g. Cairns and Cape Yorke) with 31 years.
  • 'Farm/mine' workers in the Northern Statistical Division reported the longest hours worked in 2001, working 55 hours during the week preceding the 2001 Census.
  • 'Farm/mine' workers in the North West Statistical Division (e.g. Mt Isa) had the highest annual average individual income ($58,196) reported at the time of the 2001 Census.
  • The proportion of people with a higher education qualification was highest amongst those working in the 'education' field in the Mackay Statistical Division (81% in 2001).
  • The 'manufacturing' workforce in the North West Statistical Division had the highest proportion of men in the state, with 92% of the workforce male.
  • 'Health care' workers in the South West Statistical Division (e.g. Roma) had the highest proportion of women in the state, with 80% of the workforce female.

More details are found in Research Paper: Workplace Functions In Regional Labour Markets, Queensland (cat. no. 6601.3).