NOTES
BACKGROUND
This report presents an analysis of Queensland data on household use of information technology 2004-05.
The statistics in this report were compiled from the Multi-Purpose Household Survey (MPHS), conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) as a supplement to the Labour Force Survey (LFS) each month from August 2004 to June 2005. The information was obtained from people aged 18 years and over about the access and use of computers and the Internet by private households.
This report has been prepared by the ABS at the request of the Queensland Department of State Development, Trade and Innovation as an alternative to the State Supplementary Survey in 2005.
ABOUT HOUSEHOLD USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (HUIT) DATA
Data on Household Use of Information Technology (HUIT) was previously collected by the ABS in the Population Survey Monitor (1998, 1999, and 2000), Survey of Education, Training and Information Technology (2001), General Social Survey (2002), Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (2003).
ABOUT THE 2004-05 MPHS
The 2004-05 MPHS included a HUIT module. The survey collected information from 15,524 randomly selected private dwelling households across Australia. In this survey, one randomly selected person per household was asked about their household's access to and their own use of computers and the Internet.
HISTORICAL COMPARISONS
The range of information sought in the Household Use of Information Technology surveys has changed over previous years. More information on these statistics can be found in 1998-2003 Use of Information Technology by Households in Queensland (Cat. no. 8146.3).
The HUIT data for 2003 was obtained from the Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC), and person level data from this survey only relates to persons with a disability aged 15 years or over, and is thus not comparable with results from the MPHS 2004-05. SDAC data are comparable at the household level.
Data collected and Presentation
The tables in this report cover analysis of households and persons. Household level data has been presented with the characteristics of household income and Major Statistical Region (MSR). The MSRs for Queensland are Brisbane and Balance of Queensland. Any reference in the text to Brisbane relates to the Brisbane MSR. For more information on the MSRs, see the Glossary.
Person level data has been presented with characteristics for sex, age group, education level, personal income and labour force status.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information on any of the content in this report please contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070.
INQUIRIES
For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Statistical Consultancy Unit on Brisbane (07) 3222 6012.
SUMMARY COMMENTARY
HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS
Home Internet access
Between 1998 and 2004-05, the proportion of Queensland households with access to the Internet at home more than tripled, with a strong positive growth trend across the period (15% in 1998 to 56% in 2004-05). Of the 561,700 households with computer access in 1998, approximately one-third (194,000) also had access to the Internet. By 2004-05, the proportion with Internet access had grown to over three-quarters, in a series of annual increases, the largest occurring between 1999 and 2000 (20% to 31%).
Household Income
Households with lower incomes consistently recorded lower levels of home Internet access when compared with those with higher incomes between 1998 and 2004--05. However, Internet access for households with incomes between $25,000-$49,999 and $75,000-$99,999 decreased from 2003 proportions. Households with an income of $100,000 and over displayed the highest growth of Internet access compared to all other income groups over the 7-year period. The largest proportional growth for this income category occurred between 2003 and 2004-05 (67% to 86%).
Statistical region
Internet access at home for households in Brisbane increased strongly between 1998 and 2004-05 (18% to 59%). The proportion of households that had access to the Internet in the Balance of Queensland increased from 12% in 1998 to 54% in 2004-05, an increase of 5 percentage points on 2003. The largest increase in Internet access for households in Brisbane occurred from 2000 to 2001 (34% to 45%). The largest increase in Internet access for households in the Balance of Queensland occurred from 1999 to 2000 (16% to 28%).
Insert table households with Internet access.
USE OF INTERNET BY PERSONS AT ANY SITE
Age
In 2004-05, 64% of all persons aged 18 years or over used the Internet at any site. Internet use at any site decreased as age increased. Persons aged 18-24 years (88%) were four times more likely to use the Internet at any site than those aged 65 years or over (20%).
Education
The higher the education level obtained by persons, the more likely they were to use the Internet at any site. Persons with a bachelor degree or higher (85%) were almost twice as likely to use the Internet than those with an education level of year 12 or lower (44%).
Income
There was a strong correlation between levels of income and the proportion of persons using the Internet at any site. As income increased, there was a corresponding rise in Internet use at any site. Persons with an annual income of $100,000 or over (89%) recorded the highest proportion of Internet use at any site, compared with persons with an annual income of $0-$24,999 (51%) who reported the lowest proportion.
USE OF INTERNET BY SITE
The most common location of access to the Internet was in the home (52%), followed by work (28%) and a neighbour's, friend's or relative's house (20%).
Age
Persons aged 18-24 years were more likely to access the Internet at home (66%), at a neighbour's, friend's or relative's house (49%) or a TAFE or Tertiary institution (29%) when compared to other age groups. The highest proportion of Internet use at work was reported by persons aged 25-34 years (40%).
Education
Persons with an educational attainment of a diploma or bachelor degree were more likely to access the Internet at work and at home than those with a trade or year 12 or lower education. A greater proportion of persons with a bachelor degree or higher (73%) used the Internet at home compared with persons with a year 12 or lower education (37%). One half of all persons with a bachelor degree or higher (50%) used the Internet at work compared with 11% of persons with a year 12 or lower education.
Income
Internet use from home generally increased with annual income, with persons who reported an income of $100,000 or over (84%) showing the highest proportion of Internet use at home. This income group was also twice as likely to access the Internet at home than persons with an income under $25,000 (25%).
Labor force status
During 2004-05, employed persons were the predominant users of the Internet from home and work compared with unemployed persons and those not in the labor force. Unemployed persons were more likely to access the Internet at a neighbour's, friend's or relative's house (33%) or other site (26%) when compared to employed persons and those not in the labour force.
1.1 SITE OF INTERNET USE, Persons by selected characteristics - 2004-05 |
|  |
| | | Site of Internet use(a) | |
| | No. of persons aged 18 years or over | Home | Work | Neighbour's
friend's or
relative's
house | Public library | TAFE
or
tertiary institution | Other(b) | Any site | |
| | '000 | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | |
| |
| Sex | | | | | | | | | |
| Male | 1 429.0 | 53.1 | 27.5 | 20.2 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 12.8 | 62.9 | |
| Female | 1 462.2 | 51.4 | 28.0 | 19.0 | 7.9 | 7.6 | 11.5 | 64.7 | |
| Age group (years) | | | | | | | | | |
| 18-24 | 381.7 | 66.2 | 29.6 | 48.5 | *14.2 | 28.6 | 21.7 | 87.9 | |
| 25-34 | 541.3 | 61.1 | 39.6 | 32.0 | 10.5 | 8.6 | 16.6 | 80.1 | |
| 35-44 | 572.1 | 62.5 | 34.7 | 14.9 | 8.8 | 4.9 | 9.8 | 71.8 | |
| 45-54 | 531.6 | 57.7 | 33.1 | 14.4 | 6.6 | *4.2 | 13.8 | 67.9 | |
| 55-64 | 422.4 | 43.9 | 21.8 | 8.4 | *4.5 | *2.3 | 9.1 | 51.0 | |
| 65 years or over | 442.1 | 17.6 | *1.9 | *2.3 | **1.7 | **0.3 | *2.5 | 19.8 | |
| Level of highest educational attainment(c)(d) | | | | | | | | | |
| Year 12 or lower | 1 115.6 | 36.5 | 10.7 | 11.5 | 6.2 | 6.3 | 7.2 | 43.9 | |
| Trade/other certificate | 287.8 | 45.1 | *10.9 | 11.0 | *4.7 | *4.8 | 9.0 | 54.4 | |
| Diploma/advanced diploma | 116.7 | 70.4 | 36.8 | *15.5 | *9.6 | *6.7 | *13.6 | 80.8 | |
| Bachelor degree or higher | 252.3 | 73.2 | 50.1 | 23.0 | 14.4 | *9.1 | 23.4 | 84.9 | |
| Person income(e) | | | | | | | | | |
| $0-$24,999(f) | 1 222.2 | 41.6 | 10.2 | 16.6 | 8.6 | 10.8 | 10.3 | 50.9 | |
| $25,000-$49,999 | 794.8 | 56.5 | 37.7 | 23.1 | 6.7 | 6.5 | 12.2 | 72.4 | |
| $50,000-$74,999 | 316.2 | 70.5 | 53.8 | 25.8 | *6.9 | *5.1 | 18.0 | 84.7 | |
| $75,000-$99,999 | 82.5 | 78.6 | 70.0 | *21.3 | *11.9 | **1.5 | *22.4 | 88.4 | |
| $100,000 and over | 68.6 | 83.6 | 65.0 | *21.3 | **7.8 | **3.4 | 23.1 | 88.7 | |
| Labour Force Status(g) | | | | | | | | | |
| Employed | 1 924.5 | 62.6 | 39.7 | 24.1 | 8.0 | 8.2 | 15.1 | 76.4 | |
| Unemployed | 86.2 | 52.6 | *15.6 | 32.9 | *20.1 | *21.0 | 26.1 | 73.1 | |
| Not in the labour force | 880.4 | 29.7 | 2.9 | 8.4 | 6.0 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 35.1 | |
| Total Persons | 2 891.2 | 52.3 | 27.7 | 19.6 | 7.7 | 7.5 | 12.2 | 63.8 | |
| |
| * estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution |
| ** estimate has a relative standard error greater than 50% and is considered too unreliable for general use |
| (a) Percentages are the proportion of persons who have accessed the Internet at a particular site in each category. |
| (b) Includes government agency/department/shopfront and Internet/cyber cafe, shopping mall, airport or similar |
| (c) Excludes those who never attended school or where level was not determined. |
| (d) Education levels have been collapsed to increase reliability. For details see paragraphs 11-14 of Technical notes. |
| (e) Excludes Don't know. |
| (f) Includes those persons with income less than zero. |
| (g) Labour force status in the week before the survey. |
PURPOSE OF INTERNET USE AT HOME
Of the 1,511,000 persons in Queensland who accessed the Internet at home, 97% (1,463,112) reported personal use as a reason for accessing the Internet. Work or business related purposes was the next most frequent reason (49%) followed by education or study purposes (37%) and voluntary or community reasons (13%). Person could report one or more purposes for using the Internet.
Sex
Males and females reported similar proportions in all possible reasons for Internet use except for work or business related purposes. Over one-half of males (53%) reported using the Internet at home for work related purposes compared with less than one-half of females (45%).
Age
The proportion of Internet use for educational purposes decreased as age increased. Persons aged 18-24 years (54%) who accessed the Internet at home were more likely than any other age group to use the Internet for this purpose. The highest proportion of Internet use for work related purposed was reported by those persons aged 45-54 years (60%).
1.2 PURPOSE OF INTERNET USE AT HOME, Persons by selected characteristics - 2004-05 |
| |
| | | Purpose of Internet use(a) | |
| | No. of persons who accessed the Internet at home | Personal or private purposes | Work or business related purposes | Education or study purposes | Volunteer or community purposes | Other purposes | |
| | '000 | % | % | % | % | % | |
| |
| Sex | | | | | | | |
| Male | 759.2 | 96.0 | 53.4 | 36.9 | 12.2 | 9.6 | |
| Female | 751.8 | 97.7 | 45.0 | 36.7 | 12.8 | 7.6 | |
| Age group (years) | | | | | | | |
| 18-24 | 252.8 | 96.7 | 33.7 | 53.5 | *8.7 | *11.2 | |
| 25-34 | 330.7 | 96.8 | 52.5 | 39.1 | 7.7 | 11.4 | |
| 35-44 | 357.6 | 96.2 | 56.0 | 38.5 | 14.5 | *6.6 | |
| 45-54 | 306.9 | 96.7 | 60.1 | 33.4 | 15.2 | *5.8 | |
| 55-64 | 185.3 | 97.7 | 48.5 | 23.6 | 16.5 | *7.8 | |
| 65 years or over | 77.7 | 99.1 | *13.0 | *8.9 | *16.0 | *9.6 | |
| Level of highest educational attainment(b) | | | | | | | |
| Year 12 or lower | 407.5 | 96.3 | 29.6 | 28.6 | 12.8 | 8.9 | |
| Trade/other certificate | 129.9 | 93.9 | 39.6 | 23.0 | *12.0 | *9.6 | |
| Diploma/advanced diploma | 82.1 | 98.6 | 40.9 | *32.4 | *18.8 | **5.4 | |
| Bachelor degree or higher | 184.7 | 99.6 | 69.5 | 47.9 | 20.8 | *6.7 | |
| Person income(c) | | | | | | | |
| $0-$24,999(d) | 507.9 | 97.7 | 30.6 | 38.6 | 13.5 | 10.5 | |
| $25,000-$49,999 | 448.8 | 97.1 | 46.4 | 33.1 | 9.9 | *8.1 | |
| $50,000-$74,999 | 223.0 | 99.0 | 71.3 | 37.0 | 14.6 | 8.4 | |
| $75,000-$99,999 | 64.9 | 91.2 | 87.2 | 52.7 | *17.6 | *10.8 | |
| $100,000 and over | 57.3 | 93.1 | 81.3 | *37.0 | *12.1 | **2.3 | |
| Labour force status(e) | | | | | | | |
| Employed | 1 203.9 | 96.6 | 58.2 | 38.2 | 11.9 | 8.5 | |
| Unemployed | 45.3 | 100.0 | *31.2 | 62.8 | *25.0 | *11.4 | |
| Not in the labour force | 261.8 | 97.1 | 11.0 | 25.5 | 13.1 | 8.4 | |
| Total persons | 1 511.0 | 96.8 | 49.2 | 36.8 | 12.5 | 8.6 | |
| |
| * estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution |
| ** estimate has a relative standard error greater than 50% and is considered too unreliable for general use |
| (a) Percentages are the proportion of all persons with Internet access at home in each category. |
| (b) Excludes those who never attended school or where level was not determined. Education levels have been collapsed to increase reliability. For details see paragraphs 11-14 of Technical notes. |
| (c) Excludes Don't know. |
| (d) Includes those persons with income less than zero. |
| (e) Labour force status in the week before the survey. |
MAIN PURPOSE OF INTERNET USE
In 2004-05, for all persons who had access to the Internet at home, the main purpose for Internet use was personal use (66%), followed by work related (21%) and other purposes (13%).
Sex
Males (63%) reported a lower level of personal use than females (68%), although males were more likely than females to use the Internet at home for work related purposes (25% and 17% respectively).
Age
Personal use was the main purpose reported for Internet use at home across all age groups, especially for persons aged 65 years or over (91%) who reported a substantially higher proportion than any other age group.
Income
Persons with an income of $75,000-$99,999 (50%) reported the highest proportion of work related purposes as their main reason for Internet use, while persons with an income of $0-$24,999 (11%) reported the lowest proportion.
Labor force status
A higher proportion of persons not in the labor force (85%) reported personal reasons as the main purpose of home Internet use compared with employed (61%) and unemployed (65%) persons.
1.3 MAIN PURPOSE OF INTERNET USE AT HOME, Persons by selected characteristics - 2004-05 |
| |
| | | Main purpose of Internet use(a) | |
| | No. of persons who accessed the Internet at home | Personal | Work related | Other purposes(b) | |
| | '000 | % | % | % | |
| |
| Sex | | | | | |
| Male | 759.2 | 63.2 | 24.9 | 11.9 | |
| Female | 751.8 | 68.0 | 17.3 | 14.7 | |
| Age group (years) | | | | | |
| 18-24 | 252.8 | 61.9 | *8.9 | 29.1 | |
| 25-34 | 330.7 | 66.1 | 19.5 | 14.4 | |
| 35-44 | 357.6 | 62.8 | 27.0 | 10.3 | |
| 45-54 | 306.9 | 63.1 | 28.9 | 8.0 | |
| 55-64 | 185.3 | 68.3 | 23.6 | *8.1 | |
| 65 years or over | 77.7 | 91.4 | **4.5 | **4.1 | |
| Level of highest educational attainment(c) | | | | | |
| Year 12 or lower | 407.5 | 70.6 | 13.1 | 16.3 | |
| Trade/other certificate | 129.9 | 71.9 | 17.4 | *10.7 | |
| Diploma/advanced diploma | 82.1 | 62.4 | 27.7 | *9.9 | |
| Bachelor degree or higher | 184.7 | 58.5 | 27.2 | 14.2 | |
| Person income(d) | | | | | |
| $0-$24,999(e) | 507.9 | 67.4 | 11.0 | 21.6 | |
| $25,000-$49,999 | 448.8 | 70.8 | 18.9 | 10.2 | |
| $50,000-$74,999 | 223.0 | 62.4 | 28.3 | *9.3 | |
| $75,000-$99,999 | 64.9 | 39.0 | 50.2 | **10.7 | |
| $100,000 and over | 57.3 | *51.4 | 46.4 | **2.2 | |
| Labour force status(f) | | | | | |
| Employed | 1 203.9 | 61.4 | 25.7 | 13.0 | |
| Unemployed | 45.3 | 65.4 | **8.3 | *26.3 | |
| Not in the labour force | 261.8 | 85.1 | *2.4 | 12.5 | |
| Total persons | 1 511.0 | 65.6 | 21.1 | 13.3 | |
| |
| * estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution |
| ** estimate has a relative standard error greater than 50% and is considered too unreliable for general use |
| (a) Percentages are the proportion of all persons with Internet access at home in all categories. |
| (b) Includes education or study purposes and voluntary or community purposes. |
| (c) Excludes those who never attended school or where level was not determined. Education levels have been collapsed to increase reliability. For details see paragraphs 11-14 of Technical notes. |
| (d) Excludes Don't know. |
| (e) Includes those persons with income less than zero. |
| (f) Labour force status in the week before the survey. |
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