6105.0 - Australian Labour Market Statistics, Jan 2006  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 06/01/2006   
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A Data Cube containing Types of Employment can be found in the July 2005 issue from the Details Tab and under the Past & Future Releases tab above.

A Data Cube containing Measures of Labour Underutilisation can be found in the April 2005 issue from the Details Tab and under the Past & Future Releases tab above.



LABOUR STATISTICS NEWS


LABOUR THEME PAGE

The ABS Labour Theme Page, available on the ABS web site, provides a guide to the range of ABS statistics on the labour market, as well as links to the latest data released.



FREE DATA ON THE WEB

The entire content of the ABS website became accessible free of charge from Monday 12 December 2005. This follows all ABS publications becoming accessible free of charge on 1 July 2005. A web page with more information and frequently asked questions is now available:
<https://www.abs.gov.au/about/pricing>.



COMPARISON OF METHODS FOR MEASURING THE AGE OF WITHDRAWAL FROM THE LABOUR FORCE

Research Paper: Comparison of Methods for Measuring the Age of Withdrawal from the Labour Force (cat. no. 1351.0.55.009) was released 10 November 2005. This paper explores the use of three summary methods for calculating the age of withdrawal from the labour force. Two of these methods estimate the 'expected' age of withdrawal, while the third method estimates the 'average' age of withdrawal. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages which need to be considered in the context of the specific research question and available data sources.



2006 SURVEY OF EMPLOYEE EARNINGS AND HOURS

The two-yearly Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (EEH) will next be conducted in May 2006. EEH provides statistics on earnings and hours paid for, as well as the coverage and pay outcomes of employees on awards, registered agreements and informal arrangements. As a result of the changes to the workplace relations system there had been some doubt about the feasibility of collecting data on pay setting arrangements. Key users of these statistics have now been consulted and ABS has decided to collect data on pay setting arrangements in May 2006 on a similar basis to previous surveys. The survey questions relating to pay setting will then be redeveloped to take into account the new workplace relations system, with the redeveloped questions to be introduced for the May 2008 EEH survey.



LABOUR STATISTICS: CONCEPTS, SOURCES AND METHODS

Labour Statistics: Concepts, Sources and Methods (cat. no. 6102.0.55.001) was updated on 15 December 2005. A new chapter covering the Multi Purpose Household Survey was added and a number of existing chapters were updated.



MULTI PURPOSE HOUSEHOLD SURVEY

The Multi Purpose Household Survey was introduced in 2004-05. This survey provides statistics annually for a number of small, self-contained topics, including labour topics. Two labour-related topics were conducted in 2004-05: a topic on retirement and a topic covering labour force participation. Retirement and Retirement Intentions (cat. no. 6238.0) and Barriers and Incentives to Labour Force Participation (cat. no. 6239.0) will be released in early 2006.



SUPPLEMENTARY SURVEYS ON LABOUR TOPICS

The Monthly Population Survey comprises the Labour Force Survey and a range of supplementary surveys, which provide detailed information on a range of topics. Education and Work, Australia (cat. no. 6227.0) and Job Search Experience, Australia (cat. no. 6222.0) were released on 14 December 2005. See the Recent Releases in this issue for more details.



ABS EMAIL NOTIFICATION SERVICE

By subscribing to this free service, you will be kept informed via email of the latest releases of ABS products. To subscribe, follow the link from the ABS home page <https://www.abs.gov.au>, provide your email address, and select your topics of interest.



Recent and upcoming statistical releases

Release date/title of publication
Reference period
Catalogue number

December 2005
Education and Work, Australia
May 2005
6227.0
ndustrial Disputes, Australia
September quarter 2005
6321.0.55.001
Job Search Experience, Australia
July 2005
6222.0
Labour Force, Australia
November 2005
6202.0
Labour Force, Australia - Detailed Delivery
November 2005
6291.0.55.001
Labour Statistics: Concepts, Sources and Methods
2005
6102.0.55.001
Wage and Salary Earners, Public Sector, Australia
September quarter 2005
6248.0.55.001
January 2006
Australian Labour Market Statistics
January 2006
6105.0
Barriers and Incentives to Labour Force Participation, Australia
August 2004 to June 2005
6239.0
Job Vacancies, Australia
November 2005
6354.0
Labour Force, Australia
December 2005
6202.0
Labour Force, Australia - Detailed Delivery
December 2005
6291.0.55.001
Labour Force Characteristics of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, Experimental Estimates from the Labour Force Survey
2002-2004
6287.0
Year Book Australia
2006
1301.0
Retirement and Retirement Intentions, Australia
August 2004 to June 2005
6238.0
February 2006
Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC)
2006
1292.0
Average Weekly Earnings, Australia
November 2005
6302.0
Household Expenditure Survey and Survey of Income and Housing - Confidentialised Unit Record Files
2003-04
6540.0
Household Expenditure Survey and Survey of Income and Housing - Confidentialised Unit Record Files, Technical Paper
2003-04
6540.0.00.001
Household Expenditure Survey and Survey of Income and Housing, User Guide
2003-04
6503.0
Labour Force, Australia
January 2006
6202.0
Labour Force, Australia - Detailed Delivery
January 2006
6291.0.55.001
Labour Price Index, Australia
December quarter 2005
6345.0
March 2006
Employee Earnings, Benefits and Trade Union Membership, Australia
August 2005
6310.0
Industrial Disputes, Australia
December quarter 2005
6321.0.55.001
Job Vacancies, Australia
February 2006
6354.0
Labour Force, Australia
February 2006
6202.0
Labour Force, Australia - Detailed Delivery
February 2006
6291.0.55.001
Persons Not in the Labour Force, Australia
September 2005
6220.0
Survey of Education and Work, Australia, Confidentialised Unit Record File on CD-ROM
May 2005
6227.0.30.001
Underemployed Workers, Australia
September 2005
6265.0
Wage and Salary Earners, Public Sector, Australia
December quarter 2005
6248.0.55.001
April 2006
Australian Labour Market Statistics
April 2006
6105.0
Characteristics of Small Business, Australia
2005
8127.0
Labour Force, Australia
March 2006
6202.0
Labour Force, Australia - Detailed Delivery
March 2006
6291.0.55.001
Measures of Australia's Progress
2006
1370.0
Multi-Purpose Household Survey 2004-2005, Expanded Confidentialised Unit Record File
2004-05
4100.0.55.001
Multi-Purpose Household Survey 2004-2005, Expanded Confidentialised Unit Record File, Technical Paper
2004-05
4100.0


NOTES

FORTHCOMING ISSUES

ISSUE (QUARTER) Release Date
April 2006 3 April 2006
July 2006 7 July 2006



DATA CONTAINED IN THIS ISSUE

The statistics shown are the latest available at 16 December 2005. Data sources for the tables in this publication are listed in Appendix 1.



ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS

The spreadsheets and data cubes referenced in this publication are available on the ABS web site at <https://www.abs.gov.au> [AusStats - Publications and Data], then [Data Cubes] or [Time Series Spreadsheets].



INQUIRIES

For information about other Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) statistics and services, please refer to the back of this publication.



INQUIRIES

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Assistant Director, Labour Market Statistics on Canberra (02) 6252 7636.



LABOUR MARKET SUMMARY


KEY MEASURES

% change from
Measure
Series type
Period
Current figure
Previous quarter(a)
Previous year(b)

Employed
Persons '000
Trend
Nov 2005
10 028.4
0.0
2.3
Full-time '000
Trend
Nov 2005
7 134.1
-0.4
1.9
Part-time '000
Trend
Nov 2005
2 894.3
0.8
3.6
Part-time employment as a proportion of total employment %
Trend
Nov 2005
28.9
(c)0.2
(c)0.3
Unemployed
Persons '000
Trend
Nov 2005
541.5
1.4
-0.1
Looking for full-time work '000
Trend
Nov 2005
386.0
2.5
0.0
Looking for part-time work '000
Trend
Nov 2005
155.5
-1.3
-0.5
Unemployment rate
Persons %
Trend
Nov 2005
5.1
(c)0.1
(c)-0.1
Long-term unemployment
Persons '000
Trend
Nov 2005
97.3
4.7
-8.7
As a proportion of total unemployment %
Trend
Nov 2005
18.0
(c)0.6
(c)-1.7
Annual labour underutilisation rates(d)
Long-term unemployment rate %
Original
Sep 2004
1.2
na
(c)-0.1
Unemployment rate %
Original
Sep 2004
5.5
na
(c)-0.4
Underemployment rate %
Original
Sep 2004
5.6
na
(c)0.0
Labour force underutilisation rate %
Original
Sep 2004
11.1
na
(c)-0.4
Extended labour force underutilisation rate %
Original
Sep 2004
12.2
na
(c)-0.3
Children living without an employed parent(e) %
Original
Jun 2005
14.9
na
(c)-2.3
Labour force participation rate
Persons aged 15-64 years %
Original
Nov 2005
75.1
(c)0.0
(c)0.8
Total %
Trend
Nov 2005
64.4
(c)-0.2
(c)0.6
Actual hours worked
Aggregate weekly hours mill. hours
Original
Nov 2005
342.9
-1.0
1.4
Average weekly hours - Persons hours
Original
Nov 2005
34.2
-1.4
-0.9
Average weekly hours - Full-time hours
Original
Nov 2005
41.4
-1.5
-0.8
Average weekly hours - Part-time hours
Original
Nov 2005
16.5
-2.3
0.2
Part-time workers
Proportion who preferred to work more hours %
Original
Nov 2005
24.9
(c)1.0
(c)-1.0
Wage price index
Total hourly rates of pay excluding bonuses index no.
Trend
Sep qtr 2005
106.5
1.0
4.2
Average weekly earnings
Full-time adult ordinary time earnings $
Trend
Aug 2005
1 022.60
1.5
6.2
All employees total earnings $
Trend
Aug 2005
805.40
1.4
6.2
Compensation of employees
Household income account $m
Trend
Sep qtr 2005
111 245
1.8
7.3
Average earnings (National Accounts basis nominal) per week $
Trend
Sep qtr 2005
972
1.1
3.5
Industrial disputes
Working days lost '000
Original
Sep qtr 2005
53.9
2.0
-42.3
Working days lost per 1,000 employees number
Original
Sep qtr 2005
6.2
2.8
-44.9
Job vacancies
Australia '000
Trend
Aug 2005
140.9
-1.8
9.0

na not available
(a) Same period previous quarter (monthly data is presented for the middle month of each quarter).
(b) Same period previous year.
(c) Change is in percentage points.
(d) See table 4.1 or the Glossary for further explanation of labour underutilisation rates.
(e) As a proportion of all children aged under 15 years. See the Explanatory Notes for information on family data.



EMPLOYMENT: TREND SERIES

Full-time and total employment
Graph: Trend full-time and total employment
Males and females
Graph: Trend employment for males and females




PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT: TREND SERIES
Proportion of total employment, Males
Graph: Trend male part-time employment as a proportion of total male employment
Proportion of total employment, Females
Graph: Trend female part-time employment as a proportion of total female employment




UNEMPLOYMENT RATE: TREND SERIES
Males and females
Graph: Trend unemployment rate for males and females




LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYMENT: TREND SERIES
Proportion of total unemployment
Graph: Long-term unemployment as a proportion of total unemployment, males and females




UNDERUTILISED LABOUR
Labour underutilisation rates - 1994-2004
Graph: Labour underutilisation rates, 1994 to 2004




PARTICIPATION RATE: TREND SERIES
Persons
Graph: Trend participation rate
Males
Graph: Trend participation rate of males
Females
Graph: Trend participation rate of females




WAGE PRICE INDEX: TREND SERIES
Total hourly rates of pay excluding bonuses, Quarterly change
Graph: Total hourly rates of pay excluding bonuses, Quarterly change




AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS: TREND SERIES
Full-time adult ordinary time earnings, Quarterly change
Graph: Quarterly change in full-time adult ordinary time earnings
All employees total earnings, Level
Graph: All employees total earnings, level




INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES: ORIGINAL SERIES
Working days lost, Quarter ending
Graph: Working days lost Quarter ending




JOB VACANCIES: TREND SERIES
Job vacancies, By sector
Graph: Job vacancies by sector