• Summary
• Downloads
• Explanatory Notes
• Related Information
• Past Releases

A Data Cube containing Types of Employment can be found in the July 2006 issue from the Details tab and under Past & Future Releases tab above.

A Data Cube containing Measures of Labour Underutilisation can be found in this April 2007 issue from the Details tab.


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. To find the Theme Page, go to <https://www.abs.gov.au> [Themes - People - Labour].

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. Results from surveys on labour-related topics recently released include: Child Employment, Australia (cat. no. 6211.0), Employee Earnings, Benefits and Trade Union Membership, Australia (cat. no. 6310.0), Persons Not in the Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6220.0) and Underemployed Workers, Australia (cat. no. 6265.0). See the recent releases in this issue for more details.

UPDATE OF THE ANNUAL MEASURES OF LABOUR UNDERUTILISATION

The annual measures of labour underutilisation have now been updated for 2006. The data for the annual headcount measures are presented in tables 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 of this publication. The experimental volume measures are presented in the spotlight section of this publication. A spreadsheet containing the headcount measures is available from the ABS web site. To find the spreadsheet go to the ABS web site <https://www.abs.gov.au>, click on 'Access to all ABS products and statistics' and search by catalogue number. The spreadsheet can be found under the 'Details' tab in this April 2007 issue of Australian Labour Market Statistics (cat. no. 6105.0).

UPDATE OF TRADE UNION MEMBERSHIP SPREADSHEET

The Trade Union Membership spreadsheet containing historical trade union membership data has been updated with 2006 data. To find the spreadsheet, go to the ABS web site <https://www.abs.gov.au>, click on 'Access to all ABS products and statistics' and search by catalogue number. The spreadsheet can be found under the 'Details' tab for catalogue number 6310.0, Employee Earnings, Benefits and Trade Union Membership, Australia.

NEW TIME SERIES SPREADSHEETS AVAILABLE

ABS has recently released a range of spreadsheets for the Labour Force Survey, the Persons Not in the Labour Force Survey, and the Employee Earnings, Benefits and Trade Union Membership Survey. These spreadsheets are available free from the ABS web site.

The new Labour Force Survey spreadsheets contain historical data from 1966 to 1984 and provide a range of information including: labour force status by sex and marital status; participation rates by age and marital status; and the occupation and industry of employed people. To find the spreadsheets, go to the ABS web site <https://www.abs.gov.au>, click on 'Access to all ABS products and statistics' and search by catalogue number. The spreadsheets can be found under the 'Details' tab for catalogue number 6204.0.55.001, Labour Force Historical Timeseries, Australia.

The new Persons Not in the Labour Force Survey spreadsheets contain data from 1994 to 2006 and will be updated each year. The spreadsheets provide a range of information on the characteristics of people not in the labour force such as their main activity while not in the labour force and the main reason they are not looking for work. To find the spreadsheets, go to the ABS web site, click on 'Access to all ABS products and statistics' and search by catalogue number. The spreadsheets can be found under the 'Details' tab for catalogue number 6220.0, Persons Not in the Labour Force, Australia.

The new Employee Earnings, Benefits and Trade Union Membership spreadsheets contain time series data of employee earnings from 1990 to 2006 and will be updated each year. The spreadsheets provide employee earnings cross-classified by a number of variables, including: sex, age, industry, occupation, full-time/part-time status and sector. To find the spreadsheets, go to the ABS web site, click on 'Access to all ABS products and statistics' and search by catalogue number. The spreadsheets can be found under the 'Details' tab for catalogue number 6310.0, Employee Earnings, Benefits and Trade Union Membership, Australia.

EMPLOYEE EARNINGS AND HOURS

Final results from the 2006 Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (EEH) were released on 28 February in the publication Employee Earnings and Hours, Australia (cat. no. 6306.0). This survey collected information from a sample of employers about the earnings, hours paid for, methods of setting pay, and other selected characteristics of their employees.

Data from this survey on the methods used to set employees' pay is included in the spotlight section of this publication.

RELEASE OF ANZSCO AND ANZSIC06 DATA

In 2006 the ABS released the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (cat. no. 1220.0) and Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification, 2006 (cat. no. 1292.0). These products replaced the previous occupation and industry classifications. The ABS has been coding industry and occupation data from the Labour Force Survey to both the old and new classifications since August 2006, and will continue doing so until 2009. The ABS released six data cubes containing data based on the new classifications in March 2007. The data cubes currently contain data for August 2006, November 2006 and February 2007 and will be updated each quarter as additional data become available. To find the data cubes go to the ABS web site
<https://www.abs.gov.au>, click on 'Access to all ABS products and statistics' and search by catalogue number. The spreadsheets can be found under the 'Details' tab for catalogue number 6291.0.55.003, Labour Force, Australia, Detailed, Quarterly.

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
March 2007
	Australian Economic Indicators	April 2007	1350.0
	Industrial Disputes, Australia	December quarter 2006	6321.0.55.001
	Job Vacancies, Australia	February 2007	6354.0
	Labour Force, Australia	February 2007	6202.0
	Labour Force, Australia, Spreadsheets	February 2007	6202.0.55.001
	Labour Force, Australia - Detailed Delivery, Monthly	February 2007	6291.0.55.001
	Labour Force, Australia - Detailed Delivery, Quarterly	February 2007	6291.0.55.003
	Labour Force Historical Timeseries, Australia	1966-84	6204.0.55.001
	Persons Not in the Labour Force, Australia	September 2006	6220.0
	Regional Wage & Salary Earner Statistics, Australia	2003-04	5673.0.55.001
	Regional Wage & Salary Earner Statistics, Australia - Data Cubes	2003-04	5673.0.55.003
	Wage & Salary Earners, Public Sector, Australia	December quarter 2006	6248.0.55.001
April 2007
	Australian Economic Indicators	May 2007	1350.0
	Australian Labour Market Statistics	April 2007	6105.0
	Characteristics of Small Business, Australia	2005	8127.0
	Employee Earnings, Benefits & Trade Union Membership, Australia	August 2006	6310.0
	Forms of Employment, Australia	November 2006	6359.0
	General Social Survey: Basic Confidentialised Unit Record File	2006	4159.0.30.001
	General Social Survey: Basic & Expanded Confidentialised Unit Record File, Technical Manual	2006	4159.0.30.003
	General Social Survey: Expanded Confidentialised Unit Record File	2006	4159.0.30.002
	General Social Survey: Summary Results, Australia	2006	4159.0
	General Social Survey: User Guide, Australia	2006	4159.0.55.002
	Labour Force, Australia	March 2007	6202.0
	Labour Force, Australia, Spreadsheets	March 2007	6202.0.55.001
	Labour Force, Australia - Detailed Delivery, Monthly	March 2007	6291.0.55.001
	Labour Force Survey & Labour Mobility, Australia: Basic Confidentialised Unit Record File	February 2006	6202.0.30.004
	Labour Force Survey & Labour Mobility, Australia: Basic Confidentialised Unit Record File, Technical Manual	February 2006	6202.0.30.005
	Labour Statistics: Concepts, Sources & Methods (Update)	April 2007	6102.0.55.001
	Measures of Australia's Progress: At A Glance	2007	1383.0.55.002
	Measures of Australia's Progress: Summary Indicators	2007	1383.0.55.001
May 2007
	Australian Economic Indicators	June 2007	1350.0
	Average Weekly Earnings, Australia	February 2007	6302.0
	Household Expenditure Survey, Australia: Confidentialised Unit Record File	1998-99	6544.0.30.001
	Household Expenditure Survey, Australia: Confidentialised Unit Record File, Technical Manual	1998-99	6544.0
	Household Expenditure Survey & Survey of Income & Housing - Confidentialised Unit Record Files (Second edition)	2003-04	6540.0
	Household Expenditure Survey & Survey of Income & Housing - Confidentialised Unit Record Files, Technical Paper (Second edition)	2003-04	6540.0.00.001
	Labour Force, Australia	April 2007	6202.0
	Labour Force, Australia, Spreadsheets	April 2007	6202.0.55.001
	Labour Force, Australia - Detailed Delivery, Monthly	April 2007	6291.0.55.001
	Labour Force Survey & Employee Earnings, Benefits & Trade Union Membership, Australia: Basic Confidentialised Unit Record File	August 2006	6202.0.30.001
	Labour Force Survey & Employee Earnings, Benefits & Trade Union Membership, Australia: Basic & Expanded CURF, Technical Manual	August 2006	6202.0.30.002
	Labour Force Survey & Employee Earnings, Benefits & Trade Union Membership, Australia: Expanded Confidentialised Unit Record File	August 2006	6202.0.30.003
	Labour Price Index, Australia	March 2007	6345.0
	Labour Statistics in Brief, Australia	2007	6104.0
	Preferred Working Hours of Wage & Salary Earners, Australia	October 2006	6365.3
	Voluntary Work, Australia	2006	4441.0
	Working Time Arrangements, Australia	November 2006	6342.0
June 2007
	Australian Economic Indicators	July 2007	1350.0
	Industrial Disputes, Australia	March quarter 2007	6321.0.55.001
	Household Income & Income Distribution, Australia	2005-06	6523.0
	Household Income & Income Distribution, Australia - Detailed Tables	2005-06	6523.0.55.001
	Job Vacancies, Australia	May 2007	6354.0
	Labour Force, Australia	May 2007	6202.0
	Labour Force, Australia, Spreadsheets	May 2007	6202.0.55.001
	Labour Force, Australia - Detailed Delivery, Monthly	May 2007	6291.0.55.001
	Labour Force, Australia - Detailed Delivery, Quarterly	May 2007	6291.0.55.003
	Wage & Salary Earners, Public Sector, Australia	March quarter 2007	6248.0.55.001
July 2007
	Australian Economic Indicators	Aug 2007	1350.0
	Australian Labour Market Statistics	July 2007	6105.0
	Australian Social Trends	2007	4102.0
	Labour Force, Australia	June 2007	6202.0
	Labour Force, Australia, Spreadsheets	June 2007	6202.0.55.001
	Labour Force, Australia - Detailed Delivery, Monthly	June 2007	6291.0.55.001
	Labour Force, Australia: Labour Force Status & Other Characteristics of Families - Electronic Delivery	June 2007	6224.0.55.001
	Labour Force Experience, Australia	February 2007	6206.0
	Survey of Income & Housing - Confidentialised Unit Record File	2005-06	6541.0.30.001
	Survey of Income & Housing - Confidentialised Unit Record File, Technical Manual	2005-06	6541.0

ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS

The spreadsheets and data cubes referenced in this publication are available on the ABS web site at <https://www.abs.gov.au> [Access to all ABS products & statistics - By Catalogue Number - 6. Labour Statistics and Prices].

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 call (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	Feb 2007	10 350.4	0.5	2.9
	Full-time	'000	Trend	Feb 2007	7 398.9	0.6	3.0
	Part-time	'000	Trend	Feb 2007	2 951.5	0.3	2.4
	Part-time employment as a proportion of total employment	%	Trend	Feb 2007	28.5	(c)-0.1	(c)-0.1
Unemployed
	Persons	'000	Trend	Feb 2007	495.9	-1.0	-9.2
	Looking for full-time work	'000	Trend	Feb 2007	350.8	-1.8	-8.7
	Looking for part-time work	'000	Trend	Feb 2007	145.0	0.8	-10.5
Unemployment rate
	Persons	%	Trend	Feb 2007	4.6	(c)-0.1	(c)-0.6
Long-term unemployment
	Persons	'000	Trend	Feb 2007	83.1	-1.9	-16.7
	As a proportion of total unemployment	%	Trend	Feb 2007	16.8	(c)-0.2	(c)-1.5
Annual labour underutilisation rates(d)
	Long-term unemployment rate	%	Original	Sep 2006	0.8	na	(c)-0.1
	Unemployment rate	%	Original	Sep 2006	4.8	na	(c)-0.4
	Underemployment rate	%	Original	Sep 2006	5.0	na	(c)-0.3
	Labour force underutilisation rate	%	Original	Sep 2006	9.8	na	(c)-0.7
	Extended labour force underutilisation rate	%	Original	Sep 2006	10.6	na	(c)-0.9
Children living without an employed parent(e)		%	Original	Jun 2006	14.4	na	(c)-0.5
Labour force participation rate
	Persons aged 15-64 years	%	Original	Feb 2007	76.4	(c)0.9	(c)0.4
	Total	%	Trend	Feb 2007	64.8	(c)0.0	(c)0.4
Actual hours worked
	Aggregate weekly hours	mill. hours	Original	Feb 2007	360.3	1.9	3.1
	Average weekly hours - Persons	hours	Original	Feb 2007	34.9	1.4	0.2
	Average weekly hours - Full-time	hours	Original	Feb 2007	41.7	0.8	0.0
	Average weekly hours - Part-time	hours	Original	Feb 2007	17.0	1.2	0.9
Part-time workers
	Proportion who preferred to work more hours	%	Original	Feb 2007	24.7	(c)1.5	(c)-0.7
Wage price index
	Total hourly rates of pay excluding bonuses	index no.	Trend	Jun qtr 2006	109.7	1.0	4.1
Average weekly earnings
	Full-time adult ordinary time earnings	$	Trend	Nov 2006	1 058.90	0.7	3.0
	All employees total earnings	$	Trend	Nov 2006	846.70	0.9	4.4
Compensation of employees
	Household income account	$m	Trend	Dec qtr 2006	122 154	1.9	7.3
	Average earnings (National Accounts basis nominal) per week	$	Trend	Dec qtr 2006	1 035	1.1	4.0
Industrial disputes
	Working days lost	'000	Original	Dec qtr 2006	54.2	168.4	-33.1
	Working days lost per 1,000 employees	number	Original	Dec qtr 2006	6.0	164.5	-34.9
Job vacancies
	Australia	'000	Trend	Feb 2007	161.8	1.1	12.8
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


Males and females

Proportion of total employment, Males


Proportion of total employment, Females

Males and females

Proportion of total unemployment

Labour underutilisation rates - 1996-2006

Persons


Males


Females

Full-time adult ordinary time earnings, Quarterly change


All employees total earnings, Level

Working days lost, Quarter ending

Job vacancies, by Sector