SUMMARY OF FINDINGS


OVERVIEW

In November 2010, there were approximately 11.3 million employed persons aged 15 years and over. Of these, 7.0 million (62%) were employees with paid leave entitlements, that is, they were entitled to paid sick and/or paid holiday leave. Of the remaining employed persons:

• 2.2 million were employees without paid leave entitlements;
• 1.1 million were independent contractors; and
• 1.0 million were other business operators.

EMPLOYEES




For males, the industry Division with the most employees was Manufacturing (13%) followed by Construction (11%). However for females, the industry Division with the most employees was Health care and social assistance (21%), followed by Retail trade (14%), and Education and training (13%).

Of the 7.0 million persons who were employees with paid leave entitlements, 54% were males. The industry Division with the highest proportion of males and females with paid leave entitlements was Financial and insurance services (93% and 94% respectively). The industry Division with the lowest proportion of males and females with paid leave entitlements was Accommodation and food services (42% and 29% respectively).

For both males and females, the occupation group with the highest proportion of employees with paid leave entitlements was Managers (95% and 90% respectively). This was followed by Professionals for both males and females (92% and 88% respectively). The occupation group with the lowest proportion of males with paid leave entitlements was Labourers (57%). By comparison, the occupation group with the lowest proportion of females with paid leave entitlements was Sales workers (45%).

An estimated 6.4 million (70%) employees were full-time workers in their main job. Most employees who were full-time workers in their main job, had paid leave entitlements (90%). By comparison, of the 2.8 million part-time workers, less than half (45%) had paid leave entitlements.

Other characteristics of employees in November 2010 include:

• 23% had been with their current employer for less than 1 year, while 20% had been with their current employer for 10 years or more;
• 20% were aged 15-24 years, and 14% were aged 55 years and over;
• 40% had some say in their start and finish times;
• 69% worked weekdays only in their job/s¹, while a further 30% worked both weekdays and weekends; and
• Only 4% worked on a fixed-term contract, and just over half of these (53%) were Professionals.

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS

There were 1.1 million persons who were independent contractors in their main job in November 2010, the majority (74%) of these were males. Almost half (47%) of all independent contractors actually worked 40 hours or more in their main job (56% of males and 22% of females).

Female independent contractors were more likely to work fewer hours than males. For example, more than one-third (34%) of female independent contractors worked fewer than 15 hours in their main job, compared to 12% of male independent contractors. A further 22% of females worked 15-24 hours in their main job compared to 11% of males.

Around half of all independent contractors (49% of males and 54% of females) were in the 35-54 year age groups.

Independent contractors were most likely to work in the Construction industry Division (31%) followed by the Professional, scientific and technical services industry (14%). Male independent contractors were more likely to work in the Construction industry Division (39%) followed by the Professional, scientific and technical services industry (13%). By comparison, female independent contractors were most likely to work in the Professional, scientific and technical services industry Division (18%), followed by the Administrative and support services industry (15%).

For males, the occupation group with the most independent contractors was Technicians and trades workers (38%), followed by Professionals (18%). However, for females the most independent contractors worked as Professionals (32%), followed by Clerical and administrative workers (21%).

Most independent contractors (77%), were usually able to work on more than one active contract, however, just under half (47%) of all independent contractors had more than one active contract in the reference week.

Other characteristics of independent contractors in November 2010 include:

• 60% had authority over their own work (61% of males and 59% of females);
• 68% were able to (sub)contract their own work (71% of males and 60% of females);
• 79% had no employees (78% of males and 84% of females);
• 14% had been with their current business for less than 1 year, while 38% had been with their current business for 10 years or more;
• 85% had some say in their start or finish times; and
• 61% worked weekdays only in their job/s¹, while a further 39% worked on both weekdays and weekends.

OTHER BUSINESS OPERATORS

There were approximately 1.0 million other business operators in November 2010, of whom 62% were males. For both males and females, over half of business operators were in the 35-54 year age group (53% and 58% respectively).

Other business operators who were males were most likely to work in the Agriculture, forestry and fishing industry Division (18%), followed by the Professional, scientific and technical services industry (11%), retail trade industry (11%) and construction industry (10%). For females, the most common industry Divisions were Agriculture, forestry and fishing (17%), and Retail trade (13%).

The most common occupation of other business operators for males and females was Managers (47% and 35% respectively).

For males, the next most common occupations were Professionals (18%) and Technicians and trades workers (16%). For females, the second most common occupation was clerical and administrative workers (25%).

Other characteristics of other business operators in November 2010 include:

• 59% actually worked 40 hours or more in their main job (73% of males and 36% of females) in the reference week, while almost two-thirds (64%) of these, actually worked 49 or more hours in the reference week;
• Almost half (49%) had been with their current employer/business for 10 years or more;
• 90% had some say in their start or finish times; and
• 44% worked weekdays only in their job/s¹, while a further 55% worked on both weekdays and weekends.

ALL EMPLOYED PERSONS


Persons who were younger in age were most likely to be employees compared with independent contractors and other business operators. As age increases, generally, the proportion of employees decreases, while the proportion of independent contractors and other business operators increase however, being an employee was the most likely form of employment for employed persons for all age ranges. For example:

• 95% of persons aged 15-24 years were employees, 4% were independent contractors and 1% were other business operators;
• 78% of persons aged 35-44 years were employees, 11% were independent contractors and 11% were other business operators; and
• 50% of persons aged 65 years and over were employees, 19% were independent contractors and 31% were other business operators.

END NOTE

1. See paragraph 20 of the Explanatory Notes for more information.