SUMMARY OF FINDINGS


OVERVIEW

In July 2011, there were 572,200 persons (300,300 males and 271,900 females) who were unemployed. Of these:

• 80% of unemployed males were looking for full-time work;
• 61% of unemployed females were looking for full-time work; and
• 85% of unemployed persons had not started a job in the previous 12 months.

In July 2011, there were 1.7 million job starters (employed persons who had started their current job in the previous 12 months). Of these:

• 59% searched for work for less than 1 year before starting current job;
• 67% were working full-time;
• 28% were aged 25-34 years; and
• 20% were aged 45 years and over.

UNEMPLOYED PERSONS

Duration of unemployment

The majority (81%) of unemployed persons had been unemployed for less than one year. The percentage of unemployed persons who had been unemployed for one year or more was 18% in 2010 and 19% in 2011. The median duration of unemployment is the same as it was in 2010, that is, 14 weeks.


Difficulties in finding work

In July 2011, the main difficulty in finding work for unemployed persons was 'too many applicants for available jobs' (12%), followed by 'insufficient work experience' (10%).

The difficulties in finding work for unemployed persons varied with age, sex, duration of unemployment and the type of work for which they were looking (full-time or part-time).

The main difficulty for persons aged 15-19 years was 'insufficient work experience' (19%) whereas, the main difficulty in finding work for persons aged 45 years and over was 'considered too old by employers' (18%).

For unemployed males, the most commonly reported main difficulties in finding work were:

• 'too many applicants for available jobs' (11%);
• 'own ill health or disability' (10%); and
• 'no vacancies at all' (9%).

For unemployed females, the most commonly reported main difficulties in finding work were:

• 'too many applicants for available jobs' (13%);
• 'insufficient work experience' (12%); and
• 'lacked necessary skills or education' (9%).

For long-term unemployed persons, the most commonly reported main difficulties were:

• 'own ill health or disability' (17%); and
• 'lacked necessary skills or education' (13%).

For persons who had been unemployed for less than 1 year the most commonly reported main difficulties were:

• 'too many applicants for available jobs' (12%);
• 'insufficient work experience' (10%); and
• 'lacked necessary skills or education' (8%).

There were 65,800 unemployed persons who reported that they had 'no difficulties at all' in finding work. Of those reporting no difficulties, 70% had been unemployed for less than eight weeks.


All steps taken to find work

In July 2011, the percentage of persons looking for full-time work was 71% of unemployed persons. This compares with 72% of unemployed persons in 2010. The most common steps taken to find work (both full-time and part-time) reported by unemployed persons were:

• 'wrote, phoned or applied in person to an employer for work' (85%);
• 'looked at advertisements for jobs on the Internet' (78%);
• 'looked at advertisements for jobs in a newspaper' (73%); and
• 'answered an advertisement for a job on the Internet' (59%).

For steps taken to find work, the largest percentage point difference between long-term unemployed persons and those who had been unemployed for less than 1 year were:

• 'registered with Centrelink as a job seeker' (70% and 40% respectively);
• 'registered with a Job Services Australia provider' (59% and 34% respectively); and
• 'checked with a Job Services Australia provider' (49% and 29% respectively).

Older and younger unemployed

In July 2011, 37% (213,200) of unemployed persons were aged 15-24 years compared to 25% (141,700) of unemployed persons who were aged 45 years and over.

The most common steps taken to find work reported by those aged 15-24 years were 'wrote, phoned or applied in person to an employer for work' (84%) and 'looked at advertisements for a job on the Internet' (79%). The most common steps reported by those aged 45 years and over were 'wrote, phoned or applied in person to an employer for work' (87%) and 'looked at advertisements for a job in the newspaper' (82%).


ALL JOB STARTERS

In July 2011 there were 1.7 million job starters (employed persons who started their current job in the previous 12 months). Of these:

• 93% were employees (including OMIEs);
• 35% usually worked part-time hours, of whom 38% preferred to work more hours;
• 59% were aged 15-34 years;
• 7% were aged 55 years and over;
• 61% had a non-school qualification;
• 59% looked for work for less than 1 year before attaining their current job (of whom 74% looked for work for between 1 and 13 weeks);
• 5% looked for work for 1 year or more; and
• 36% did not look for work.

EMPLOYEE JOB STARTERS (EXCLUDING OMIES)

In July 2011 there were 1.6 million employee¹ job starters, of whom 42% did not have paid leave entitlements in their current job. Of those without leave entitlements:

• 42% were aged 15-24 years;
• 17% were aged 45 and over; and
• 55% were females.

The majority (90%) of employee¹ job starters had worked before. Of these:

• 37% were out of work prior to starting their current job; and
• 30% were aged 25-34.

All steps taken to attain a job

Of employee¹ job starters, the most commonly reported step to attain a job was 'had an interview with an employer' (66%). For the steps taken to attain a job, the largest percentage point difference between those who had worked before and first job holders were:

• 'answered an advertisement for a job on the Internet' (40% and 31% respectively);
• 'looked for advertisements for jobs on the Internet' (50% and 42% respectively);
• 'registered with other employment agency' (13% and 8% respectively); and
• 'answered an advertisement for a job in a newspaper' (21% and 16% respectively).

Around 153,700 employee¹ job starters had either considered or had actually started or purchased a business in the last 12 months. Of these, 24,900 had started or purchased a business but had not continued with it.


OWNER MANAGERS

In July 2011, there were 162,100 owner managers who started their current business in the previous 12 months. The main reasons most commonly reported for starting or purchasing a business were:

• 26% wanted to be their own boss;
• 23% wanted financial gain;
• 20% for other reasons; and
• 15% wanted control over working conditions.

PERSONS EMPLOYED FOR MORE THAN A YEAR IN THEIR CURRENT JOB AND LOOKED FOR WORK

In July 2011, there were 544,600 persons employed for more than a year in their current job who looked for work in the previous 12 months. Of these:

• 52% were males;
• 61% were full-time workers;
• 30% were aged 25-34; and
• 88% were employees (excluding OMIEs).

The main reasons for looking for work were:

• wanted better pay (42% males and 33% females); and
• wanted a change (33% males and 38% females).

END NOTE

1. Excludes owner managers of incorporated enterprises (OMIEs).