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Western Australian Statistical Indicators (cat. no. 1367.5)

The September 2005 issue of Western Australian Statistical Indicators, released on 10 October 2005, features an analysis of Youth in Regional Western Australia. This article draws attention to the differing characteristics of young people residing in metropolitan Perth to those in ten selected regional areas. The article examines aspects of population, education, employment, living arrangements and cultural diversity. Youth in the selected regional areas shared a number of characteristics with youth in Perth. These similarities included that they worked mainly in the retail industry, commonly lived with parents, were associated with a variety of ancestries, spoke a diverse range of languages and were mostly Christian. However, among the selected regional areas, youth had lower rates of participation in education, were more often employed in the major industries located within their areas, and had a higher proportion disengaged or not in education or work, than youth in Perth.

In Busselton, Kalgoorlie/Boulder and Port Hedland there were considerably more male than female youth. In two of the selected regional areas there were more young females than males: Carnarvon had 98.1 young males for every 100 young females and Northam 98.4 young males for every 100 young females.

All feature articles from Western Australian Statistical Indicators can be accessed in full by going to the List of Historical Feature Articles page on the ABS web site.

A major upcoming feature article in two parts will examine the topic of skill shortages in Western Australia. The December 2005 issue of Western Australian Statistical Indicators, due for publication on 11 January 2006, will examine the relative extent and explore the nature of skill shortages in Western Australia. The second part will appear in the March quarter issue and will identify major contributing factors to the skills shortage and its impact on the Western Australian economy.

For further information contact Phil Smythe (08) 9360 5224 or email: phil.smythe@abs.gov.au