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LABOUR

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The annual average size of the labour force in Tasmania continued to grow steadily over the years 2002-03 to 2005-06, but decreased again slightly in 2006-07 to 238,000. The participation rate slowed from 60.9% in 2005-06 to 60.3% in 2006-07.

LABOUR FORCE, Tasmania

PARTICIPATION RATE, Tasmania

The number of people employed continued to grow, but increased by only 0.8% from 2005-06 to 2006-07. The number of people in full-time work also continued to increase, reaching 154,100 in 2006-07.

UNEMPLOYED PERSONS, Tasmania

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, Tasmania

Tasmania's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to an historically low level of 4.3% in May 2007. The Australian unemployment rate reached 4.3% at the same time. This was the lowest level of unemployment recorded for Tasmania since the current series began in 1978.




In May 2007, the average weekly total earnings figure for all employed Tasmanians was $1,050.50, an increase of 7.8% on the May 2006 figure. In the same period, the average weekly total earnings figure for full-time employed Tasmanian males was $1,107.40, and for females was $942.70. The Australian figure for all full-time employed adults was $1,134.30 in May 2007.

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07
LABOUR FORCE
Total labour force ('000)	220.2	225.5	230.2	238.4	238.0
Employed full-time ('000)	139.2	146.0	148.0	151.1	154.1
Employed part-time ('000)	62.0	64.2	67.9	71.6	70.4
Unemployment rate	8.6%	6.8%	6.2%	6.6%	5.7%
Long term unemployment rate	2.0%	2.0%	1.6%	2.1%	nya
Participation rate	58.3%	58.9%	59.3%	60.9%	60.3%
Labour force underutilisation rate - persons	13.5%	13.4%	13.4%	13.4%	nya
Extended labour force underutilisation rate - persons	15.4%	14.3%	14.9%	14.7%	nya
Employment growth - annual change	1.6%	4.5%	2.7%	3.2%	0.8%
Job vacancies ('000)	2.0	1.7	1.9	2.4	2.3
WORKING HOURS - ALL EMPLOYEES
Average actual hours worked per week, full-time (hrs)	37.6	38.2	38.0	36.2	36.5
Average actual hours worked per week, part-time (hrs)	13.7	15.0	15.1	14.7	14.5
OCCUPATION AND INDUSTRY
Employed in higher skilled occupations(c)('000)	103.5	108.3	114.5	116.5	121.5
Employed in service industries ('000)	155.1	155.8	154.9	157.5	157.7
Employed in manufacturing industries ('000)	22.1	22.4	23.4	22.8	21.9
AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS(d) & WAGE PRICE INDEX
Full-time adult ordinary time earnings, trend	$830.40	$853.80	$892.80	$937.50	$1 009.30
Full-time adult total earnings, trend	$861.50	$888.20	$930.10	$974.30	$1 050.50
Wage Price Index - all sectors index number	96.8	100.0	104.1	108.4	113.1
Wage Price Index - all sectors percentage change	3.3%	3.3%	4.1%	4.1%	4.3%

nya not yet available
(a) Persons aged 15 years and over.
(b) Data are annual averages calculated on monthly original estimates, unless otherwise specified.
(c) Includes ASCO skill levels 1-3, which equate to ASCO major groups 1-5. For further information, refer to Australian Standard Classification of Occupations (cat.no. 1220.0).
(d) Estimates of average weekly earnings are trend data as published for May each year.



SOURCES

Australian Labour Market Statistics (ABS cat. no. 6105.0)

Average Weekly Earnings, Australia (ABS cat. no. 6302.0)

Employment Arrangements and Superannuation, Australia (ABS cat. no. 6361.0)

Forms of Employment, Australia (ABS cat. no. 6359.0)

Job Vacancies, Australia (ABS cat. no. 6354.0)

Labour Force, Australia (ABS cat. no. 6202.0)

Labour Force, Australia, Detailed - Electronic Delivery, Monthly (ABS cat. no. 6291.0.55.001)
Labour Force, Australia, Detailed, Quarterly (ABS cat. no. 6291.0.55.003)

Labour Mobility, Australia (ABS cat. no. 6209.0)

Labour Price Index, Australia (ABS cat. no. 6345.0)

Labour Statistics: Concepts, Sources and Methods (ABS cat. no. 6102.0.55.001)

Persons Not in the Labour Force, Australia (ABS cat. no. 6220.0)

Regional Wage and Salary Earner Statistics, Australia (ABS cat. no. 5673.0)

Tasmanian Key Indicators (ABS cat.no. 1304.6)

Underemployed Workers, Australia (ABS cat. no. 6265.0)

Further information can also be found on the Labour Statistics Theme Page of the ABS website.