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FEATURE ARTICLE - CHANGES IN TYPES OF EMPLOYMENT
FEATURE ARTICLE -MATURE AGE PEOPLE AND THE LABOUR FORCE

NOTES

DATA CONTAINED IN THIS ISSUE

The statistics shown are the latest available at 23 September 2004. 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 further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or the Assistant Director, Labour Market, on Canberra (02) 6252 7636.

LABOUR STATISTICS NEWS


RELEASE OF UPDATES TO CONCEPTS, SOURCES AND METHODS

Labour Statistics: Concepts, Sources and Methods is being updated. The current paper publication (cat. no. 6102.0) will not be rereleased. However, the web version (cat. no. 6102.0.55.001), which is available via the Labour Theme Page or the Statistical Concepts Library, is being updated on an ongoing basis. On August 26, the following chapters were updated: 6, 7, 19, 20.4, 20.5, 20.13, 20.17, 23, 29 and 30. Additional chapters will be updated later in 2004, and these will be announced in subsequent issues of this publication.

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 the ABS home page, then [Themes - People - Labour].

QUESTIONNAIRES USED IN THE LABOUR FORCE SURVEY

Information Paper: Questionnaires Used in the Labour Force Survey (cat. no. 6232.0), released on 26 August 2004, provides details of the latest Labour Force Survey questionnaire. Included are definitions, guidelines to following the questionnaire, and a copy of the questionnaire.

IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPUTER ASSISTED INTERVIEWING

In October 2003, the ABS began the progressive implementation of computer assisted interviewing (CAI) into the Labour Force Survey (LFS). The implementation of CAI is now complete, with 100% of interviews conducted in August 2004 using CAI.

During the implementation period, the ABS conducted a range of analyses on each month's data. These analyses confirmed that the change in interview method has not materially affected the aggregate estimates for any month.

RECENTLY RELEASED SOCIAL SURVEYS

Results from the 2002 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey were released on 23 June 2004. Final estimates from the 2003 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers were released on 15 September 2004.

ANZSIC 2006 DEVELOPMENT

The Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) will be updated for use in the 2006 Census. Information Paper: ANZSIC 2006 Development (cat. no. 1294.0) presents information on the revised ANZSIC 2006 development. It is a useful reference for users as it provides an overview of the history of ANZSIC, rationale for the review, conceptual basis of the new classification, the new division structure, and the impact of the changes on ABS data. It also contains information on future developments such as communication strategy and critical dates for the implementation of ANZSIC 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. Results from the survey on labour mobility were recently released in Labour Mobility, Australia (cat. no. 6209.0).

THE ABS WEB SITE HAS CHANGED

From 28 August 2004, changes are being made to the ABS web site. This is being done to improve:

• navigation - how you get from A to B on the web site and how you find information;
• search - helping you to find the information you require;
• design - faster, efficient download time and greater consistency; and
• terminology - to make it easier for you to understand our information.

Recent and upcoming statistical releases
Release date/title of publication		Reference period	Catalogue number
September 2004
	Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia: Summary of Findings	2003	4430.0
	Family Characteristics, Australia	June 2003	4442.0
	Industrial Disputes, Australia	June quarter 2004	6321.0.55.001
	Job Vacancies, Australia	August 2004	6354.0
	Labour Force, Australia	August 2004	6202.0
	Labour Force, Australia, Detailed - Electronic Delivery	August 2004	6291.0.55.001
	Wage and Salary Earners, Public Sector, Australia	June quarter 2004	6248.0.55.001
October 2004
	Australian Labour Market Statistics	October 2004	6105.0
	Information Paper: 2006 Census of Population and Housing, ABS Views on Census Output Strategy	2006	2009.0
	Labour Force, Australia	September 2004	6202.0
	Labour Force, Australia, Detailed - Electronic Delivery	September 2004	6291.0.55.001
November 2004
	2006 Census of Population and Housing: Nature and Content	2006	2008.0
	Average Weekly Earnings, Australia	August 2004	6302.0
	Household Income and Income Distribution, Australia	2002-03	6523.0
	Labour Force, Australia	October 2004	6202.0
	Labour Force, Australia, Detailed - Electronic Delivery	October 2004	6291.0.55.001
	Labour Price Index, Australia (formerly Wage Cost Index)	September quarter 2004	6345.0
December 2004
	Education and Work, Australia	May 2004	6227.0
	Employee Earnings and Hours, Australia, Preliminary	May 2004	6305.0.55.001
	Industrial Disputes, Australia	September quarter 2004	6321.0.55.001
	Labour Force, Australia	November 2004	6202.0
	Labour Force, Australia, Detailed - Electronic Delivery	November 2004	6291.0.55.001
	Labour Price Index: Concepts, Sources and Methods	2004	6351.0.55.001
	Work in Selected Culture and Leisure Activities, Australia	April 2004	6281.0
January 2005
	Australian Labour Market Statistics	January 2005	6105.0
	Job Search Experience, Australia	July 2004	6222.0
	Job Vacancies, Australia	November 2004	6354.0
	Labour Force, Australia	December 2004	6202.0
	Labour Force, Australia, Detailed - Electronic Delivery	December 2004	6291.0.55.001
	Wage and Salary Earners, Public Sector, Australia	September quarter 2004	6248.0.55.001
	Year Book Australia	2005	1301.0

						% change from
Measure			Series type	Period	Current figure	Previous quarter(a)	Previous year(b)
Employed
	Persons	'000	Trend	Aug 2004	9,663.6	0.1	2.1
	Full-time	'000	Trend	Aug 2004	6,942.7	0.4	2.7
	Part-time	'000	Trend	Aug 2004	2,720.9	-0.6	0.5
	Part-time employment as a proportion of total employment	%	Trend	Aug 2004	28.2	(c)-0.2	(c)-0.4
Unemployed
	Persons	'000	Trend	Aug 2004	576.4	0.4	-4.9
	Looking for full-time work	'000	Trend	Aug 2004	414.5	-1.3	-7.8
	Looking for part-time work	'000	Trend	Aug 2004	162.0	5.2	3.3
Unemployment rate
	Persons	%	Trend	Aug 2004	5.6	(c)0.0	(c)-0.4
Long-term unemployment
	Persons	'000	Trend	Aug 2004	119.5	-0.1	-8.0
	As a proportion of total unemployment	%	Trend	Aug 2004	20.7	(c)-0.1	(c)-0.7
Annual labour underutilisation rates(d)
	Long-term unemployment rate	%	Original	Sep 2003	1.3	na	(c)-0.1
	Unemployment rate	%	Original	Sep 2003	5.9	na	(c)-0.5
	Underemployment rate	%	Original	Sep 2003	5.6	na	(c)-0.2
	Labour force underutilisation rate	%	Original	Sep 2003	11.5	na	(c)-0.6
	Extended labour force underutilisation rate	%	Original	Sep 2003	12.5	na	(c)-0.7
Children living without an employed parent(e)		%	Original	Jun 2004	17.2	na	(c)0.1
Labour force participation rate
	Persons	%	Trend	Aug 2004	63.5	(c)-0.1	(c)0.1
Actual hours worked
	Aggregate weekly hours	mill. hours	Original	Aug 2004	332.6	-0.4	2.5
	Average weekly hours - Persons	hours	Original	Aug 2004	34.7	0.3	0.5
	Average weekly hours - Full-time	hours	Original	Aug 2004	41.9	-0.2	-0.1
	Average weekly hours - Part-time	hours	Original	Aug 2004	16.7	1.4	2.0
Part-time workers
	Proportion who preferred to work more hours	%	Original	Aug 2004	26.1	(c)0.3	(c)0.8
Wage cost index
	Total hourly rates of pay excluding bonuses	index no.	Trend	Jun qtr 2004	124.6	0.8	3.5
Average weekly earnings
	Full-time adult ordinary time earnings	$	Trend	May 2004	952.5	0.7	3.8
	All employees total earnings	$	Trend	May 2004	751.9	0.4	3.7
Compensation of employees
	Household income account	$m	Trend	Jun qtr 2004	96,986.0	1.6	5.7
	Average earnings (National Accounts basis - nominal) per week	$	Trend	Jun qtr 2004	899.0	0.6	3.3
Industrial disputes
	Working days lost	'000	Original	Jun qtr 2004	152.9	90.2	175.6
	Working days lost per 1,000 employees	number	Original	Jun qtr 2004	18.2	87.5	168.6
Job vacancies
	Australia	'000	Trend	May 2004	123.6	9.2	16.6
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 - 1994-2003

Persons

Males

Females

Total hourly rates of pay excluding bonuses, Quarterly change

Full-time adult ordinary time earnings, Quarterly change

All employees total earnings, Level

Working days lost, Quarter ending

Job vacancies, By sector