2017.5 - Census of Population and Housing: Selected Education and Labour Force Characteristics for Statistical Local Areas, Western Australia, Cocos (Keeling) and Christmas Islands, 2001  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 08/04/2003   
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WESTERN AUSTRALIA, COCOS (KEELING) AND CHRISTMAS ISLANDS


INTRODUCTION


STATISTICS PRESENTED IN THIS PUBLICATION

This publication presents a range of education and labour force statistics produced from the 2001 Census of Population and Housing for Western Australia (WA). For comparative purposes, it includes 1996 Census data presented on 2001 Census geography.

The tables in this publication provide selected characteristics of the population for Statistical Divisions (SDs), Statistical Subdivisions (SSDs) and Statistical Local Areas (SLAs). The purpose of these tables is to allow a broad comparison of characteristics between geographic areas.

This publication also contains the Basic Community Profile (BCP) for WA. This set of tables is provided to illustrate the wide range of data available from the Census. The BCP consists of 33 tables. This publication contains tables 22 to 33 which focus on education and labour force characteristics. The remainder of the BCP, tables 1 to 21, is published in Census of Population and Housing: Selected Social and Housing Characteristics for Statistical Local Areas, Western Australia (cat. no. 2015.5).

The statistics in this publication are presented on the basis of where people were counted on Census Night ('as enumerated' counts).

One of the important features of the Census is that it describes the characteristics of Australia's population for small geographic areas and small population groups. While not available in this publication, data at the smallest geographic level (Collection District) are available in a range of census products. For more information on these products, please refer to the Appendix-Census Products and Services. Concepts and definitions used in this publication are explained in the Glossary and more detailed information is available in the 2001 Census Dictionary (cat. no. 2901.0). The Explanatory Notes in this publication provide a discussion of the scope and coverage of the Census, the different measures of population, and the limitations of census data.

This publication is one of a series of publications which provide data at SLA level for each state and territory. A similar publication is also available for the whole of Australia, providing data at the SSD level. See the Appendix-Census Products and Services for more information.


SUMMARY OF FINDINGS


LABOUR FORCE

In Western Australia (WA), the labour force grew from 830,037 to 896,266 persons aged 15 years and over, an increase of 8.0%, compared with 6.6% for Australia.


EMPLOYED

In 2001, there were 828,781 employed persons of which 520,491 were full-time workers and 285,302 were part-time. This represented an increase of 8.6% (65,574 persons) since 1996.


Full-time/Part-time

In 2001, there was a fall in the proportion of full-time workers who represented 58.1% of the labour force, down from 61.2% in 1996. This fall was the largest of all states and territories.

In the period 1996 to 2001, the number of persons employed part-time grew from 238,184 in 1996 to 285,302 in 2001, an increase of 19.8%, compared with 17.6% for Australia. These workers represented 31.8% of the labour force in 2001, compared with 28.7% in 1996.

Graph: Full/Part-Time Employed and Unemployment Rate, Differences in proportions of the labour force, 1996 to 2001



The Statistical Subdivision (SSD) of Fitzroy experienced the only increase in the proportion of full-time workers in the labour force since 1996 (to 52.6% in 2001 from 50.8% in 1996). However, the proportion of part-time workers increased in every SSD within WA. These factors are associated with the decrease in unemployment.

The Lakes SSD recorded the largest decrease in the proportion of full-time workers since 1996 (to 67.4% from 76.4%) and also the largest increase in the proportion of part-time workers (to 26.9% from 19.0%). The Off-Shore Areas & Migratory SSD also experienced a large decline in full-time employment (to 80.3% from 92.4%) and a large rise in part-time employment (to 15.6% from 5.8%).

In 2001, the highest proportions of full-time workers, as a proportion of persons in the labour force, were recorded in the Statistical Local Areas (SLAs) of Yalgoo (81.2%), Leonora (79.8%), Wiluna and Sandstone (both 78.9%), all outside Perth. The highest within Perth was Perth - Inner (70.3%). The Off-Shore Areas & Migratory SLA also recorded a high proportion with 80.3%.

Concentrations of part-time workers, as proportions of persons in the labour force, were generally recorded in SLAs outside Perth. The highest proportions were in Ngaanyajarraku (65.3%), Halls Creek (55.4%), Denmark (43.2%), Exmouth (42.8%) and Derby-West Kimberley (41.0%). The highest within Perth was Peppermint Grove (38.4%).


Occupation

In 2001, the largest occupation groups were Professionals (141,807 persons or 17.1%), Intermediate Clerical, Sales and Service Workers (133,162 persons or 16.1%), Tradespersons and Related Workers (110,286 persons or 13.3%) and Associate Professionals (101,949 persons or 12.3%). These were also the largest occupations in 1996.

Within Perth SLAs, the highest proportion of employed people were working as Professionals. Subiaco (43.0%) was the highest, followed by Cottesloe (41.7%), Nedlands (40.6%), Claremont (39.0%) and Cambridge (36.9%). The highest proportion outside Perth was Capel - Pt A (19.5%). The Off-Shore Areas & Migratory SLA also recorded a high proportion with 22.4%.

Intermediate Clerical, Sales and Service Workers were dispersed throughout the State. The SLAs of Belmont (19.8%), Gosnells (19.7%), Joondalup - North (19.3%) and Stirling - Central (18.8%) recorded the highest proportions within Perth, while Northam (T) (17.4%), Dardanup - Pt A (16.5%) and Bunbury (16.4%) recorded the highest proportions outside Perth.

The SLAs of Wiluna (23.2%), Laverton (22.6%) and Cue (21.2%), all outside Perth, recorded the highest proportions of persons working as Tradespersons and Related Workers. Rockingham (18.6%), Kwinana (18.3%), and Wanneroo - North-West (17.4%) recorded the highest within Perth. The Off-Shore Areas and Migratory SLA also recorded a high proportion with 28.0%.

High proportions of persons working as Associate Professionals were dispersed throughout WA. The SLAs of Fremantle - Inner (17.1%), Shark Bay (15.4%), Peppermint Grove (15.2%) and Stirling - South-Eastern (14.8%) recorded the highest.

High proportions of persons working as Elementary Clerical, Sales and Service Workers were also registered throughout the State. The SLAs of Mandurah (12.2%) and Ngaanyatjarraku (11.9%), outside Perth, and Wanneroo - South and Gosnells (both 11.7%), within Perth, recorded the highest.


Industry

In 2001, the four largest industries of employment in WA were Retail Trade (123,049 persons or 14.8%), Property and Business Services (90,141 persons or 10.9%), Manufacturing (84,281 persons or 10.2%), and Health and Community Services (79,276 persons or 9.6%). These were also the top four industries in WA in 1996.

Since 1996 there has been an increase in the proportions of persons working in Retail Trade (to 14.8% from 13.5%), Property and Business Services (to 10.9% from 9.9%), and Accommodation, Cafes and Restaurants (to 4.6% from 4.3%) and Construction (to 7.5% from 7.2%). Industries which experienced a decline in proportion included Wholesale Trade (to 5.1% from 5.7%) and Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (to 4.4% from 4.9%).

At the SLA level, the highest proportions of persons employed in Retail Trade were recorded in Mandurah (20.0%), Dardanup - Pt A (19.6%), Northam and Geraldton (both 19.1%), all outside Perth. Gosnells and Wanneroo - North-West (both 18.2%) were the highest within Perth.

The highest proportions of persons employed in Property and Business were recorded in the metropolitan SLAs including Perth - Remainder (20.7%), Peppermint Grove, Subiaco (both 20.5%) and Cottesloe (20.4%). The highest outside Perth was Capel - Pt A (9.9%).

Manufacturing recorded high proportions of employed persons both in metropolitan and regional SLAs. Within Perth, these were the SLAs of Kwinana (19.1%), Rockingham (16.8%), Cockburn (15.2%), Wanneroo - South (14.6%) and Armadale (14.1%). Outside Perth, SLAs recording high proportions of persons employed in this industry were Harvey - Pt B (18.9%), Waroona (18.3%), Harvey - Pt A (16.5%), Murray and Dardanup - Pt A (both 16.4%).

The eight highest proportions of persons employed in Health and Community Services were in SLAs in Perth. These included Nedlands (18.0%), Claremont (16.7%) and Subiaco (16.5%). Outside Perth, the highest proportions were recorded in Narrogin (13.4%) and Cuballing (12.6%).


UNEMPLOYMENT

The number of unemployed persons increased slightly (1.0%) to 67,485 in 2001 from 66,830 in 1996. The unemployment rate fell to 7.5% in 2001 from 8.1% in 1996. The unemployment rate was 7.4% for Australia in 2001.

While the number of unemployed persons looking for full-time work fell by 7.7% (to 48,790 in 2001 from 52,887 in 1996), those unemployed persons looking for part-time work increased by 34.1% (to 18,695 in 2001 from 13,943 in 1996).

At the SSD level, the largest declines in the unemployment rates between 1996 and 2001 were recorded in Moore (to 6.4% from 9.0%) and Vasse (to 6.4% from 8.4%). The Off-Shore Areas & Migratory experienced a large increase to 2.8% from 1.2%.

In 2001, SLAs with the highest unemployment rates in Perth were Kwinana (12.7%), Fremantle - Inner (10.7%), Rockingham and Wanneroo - South (both 10.2%). Outside Perth, Geraldton (13.5%), Irwin (also 13.5%), Mandurah (12.6%) and Murray (11.6%) recorded the highest unemployment rates. The Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands recorded 12.1%.

For those aged 15-24 years, the unemployment rate rose to 14.1% in 2001 from 13.7% in 1996. This compares with a fall to 13.8% in 2001 from 15.7% in 1996 in Australia.

The highest youth unemployment rates were generally recorded in SLAs outside Perth, including Nungarin (33.3%), Beverly (30.5%), Wickepin (24.2%), Morawa (23.4%) and Chapman Valley (23.2%). Fremantle - Inner (25.4%) and Kwinana (21.9%) had the highest youth unemployment rate within Perth.


NON-SCHOOL QUALIFICATION


Level of Education

In 2001, there were 507,458 persons with a qualification, accounting for 35.3% of all persons aged 15 years and over. Between 1996 and 2001 the proportion of persons with a qualification in WA rose from 30.7% (an increase of 99,807 persons). This was similar to the rise in Australia, to 34.7% from 30.0%.

Graph: Non-School Qualification: Level of Education. Proportion of persons aged 15 years and over with a qualification



Of those with a qualification, 47.6% (241,593 persons) held a Certificate, 26.7% (135,273 persons) held a Bachelor Degree, 18.1% (91,864 persons) held an Advanced Diploma and Diploma, and 7.6% (38,728 persons) held a Postgraduate Degree or Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate as their highest level of qualification.

The highest proportions of persons aged 15 years and over with a Bachelor Degree or higher as their highest level of qualification were found within Perth. The SLAs of Cottesloe (37.4%), Subiaco (36.3%), Nedlands (34.1%), Peppermint Grove (33.2%) and Claremont (32.5%) recorded the highest concentrations, while Capel - Pt A (13.6%) recorded the highest proportion outside Perth.

The highest proportions of the population aged 15 years and over with an Advanced Diploma and Diploma were recorded in Perth. The SLAs of Cambridge (9.6%), Cottesloe (9.2%), East Fremantle (9.2%), Claremont (9.0%) and Peppermint Grove (8.9%) recorded the highest proportions in Perth, while Capel - Pt A (8.6%) and Denmark (8.4%) recorded the highest outside Perth. Nungarin recorded 9.7%, however, this proportion is based on a relatively small population.

Proportions of persons with a Certificate as their highest level of qualification were generally recorded outside Perth. The SLAs of Leonora (26.7%), Roebourne (24.8%) and Yalgoo (24.0%) registered the highest proportions. Joondalup - North (20.8%), Serpentine-Jarrahdale and Rockingham (both 20.6%) were the highest within Perth. The Off-Shore Areas and Migratory SLA recorded a high proportion of the population with a Certificate with 26.6%.


Field of Study

Graph: Non-School Qualification: Field of Study. Proportion of persons aged 15 years and over with a qualification



Of all persons aged 15 years and over with a qualification, qualifications were most commonly held in the fields of Engineering and Related Technologies (139,187persons or 20.9%), Management and Commerce (97,802 persons or 14.7%), Health (59,270 persons or 8.9%), and Education (50,718 persons or 7.6%). Other, which includes Society and Culture, Creative Arts, Food, Hospitality and Personal Services, and Mixed Programmes (108,682 persons or 16.3%) also recorded a high proportion.