2007.0 - Information Paper: Census of Population and Housing: ABS Views on Content and Procedures, 2011

ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 26/10/2007

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Contents >> Topics to be Included in the 2011 Census >> Hours Worked

HOURS WORKED

JUSTIFICATION

Information on hours worked, cross-classified by industry and occupation, is required by labour market economists to analyse changes in the labour force within small geographic regions and for small groups such as Indigenous people, migrants, sole parents and specific age groups. Survey data are inadequate for such analysis.

HISTORICAL INFORMATION

A question relating to the number of hours worked by employed people has been asked in each Census since 1966 but has varied depending on whether only the main job or all jobs are included.

Since the 1996 Census, the question has referred to all jobs rather than being restricted to the main job, providing greater comparability with data from other sources.

From 2001, respondents have been required to write in the actual number of hours worked, thereby providing more detailed information.

USER REQUIREMENTS

Data on hours worked are required:

by labour market economists, to analyse changes in the labour force within small geographic regions and for small groups
as a cross-classifier for labour force variables
to derive a classification of full-time and part-time work
for the study of changing part-time employment, work patterns and growth in leisure
to estimate child care needs.

AVAILABILITY OF NON-CENSUS DATA

ABS surveys which collect data on the number of hours worked are:

the ABS Monthly Labour Force Survey (results released in Labour Force, Australia, cat. no. 6202.0 and associated electronic products 6291.0.55.001 and 6291.0.55.003)
the six-yearly Survey of Employment Arrangements, Retirement and Superannuation, 2007 (results released in Employment Arrangements and Superannuation, Australia, cat. no. 6361.0 This survey includes actual hours worked all jobs, main job, second, third and fourth job
the two-yearly Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (results released in Employee Earnings and Hours, Australia, cat. no. 6306.0) . This survey collects information on paid hours.

None of these collections provide data for small population groups or small geographic areas.

POSSIBLE CHANGES FOR 2011

The ABS will consider collecting number of hours worked in main job, for comparability with occupation and industry data (which relate to main job), as well as collecting information on usual hours worked.

2006 CENSUS QUESTION