MEDIA RELEASE
21 December 2010	Embargoed: 11.30 am (Canberra time)	168/2010

In South Australia, for every extra man entering the workforce, 1.7 women entered the workforce in the decade to June 2009, according to a report released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

In 1999, women held 38.8% of South Australia's highest skill level occupations. In 2009, the proportion increased to 43.4%, but was below the national average (45.4%) for the first time in three years.

Over the decade, the number of women employed in the highest skill level category increased by approximately 33,800 compared to 25,500 for men; an increase of more than 50% for women and approximately 25% for men over the same period.

In 2009, the South Australian public sector employed over 100,000 people and accounted for 12.6% of South Australia's total employed. Of those employed in the South Australian public sector, almost two thirds (65.7%) are women (Government of South Australia, 2009).

Of the approximately 66,100 females employed in the South Australian public sector in 2009, around 24,600 (or 37.2%) earned less than $47,999. In comparison, around 8,800 males (or 25.6%) were in this salary range. In the executive salary range of $98,500 and above, there were nearly twice as many males as females (approximately 2,800 males compared to 1,500 females).

The proportion of female executives within the South Australian public sector has increased over the previous decade from 20.4% in 1999 to 38.7% in 2009.

The full article and SA specific updates on Labour Force, State Accounts and Water can be found in the December edition of SA Stats (cat. no. 1345.4).

Media notes:

Highest skill level occupations are Skill level 1 occupations, as defined by The Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) and have a level of skill commensurate with a bachelor degree or higher qualification. At least five years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualification. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification.

When reporting ABS data the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) must be attributed as the source.