EMPLOYMENT

During 2006 the majority of the Northern Territory's workforce were found in the Public Administration and Safety industry (22% of the employed population), which includes government administration, justice, police, emergency services, and defence. The Health Care and Social Assistance industry was the next largest workforce with 10% of the employed population, increasing from 8.8% in 2001. Education and Training also increased from 7.9% of the employed population in 2001 to 9% in 2006. There has been a decrease in the Retail Trade industry from 11.9% of the employed workforce in 2001 to 9% in 2006.

It is interesting to note that even though a large portion of the rise in median income between 2001 and 2006 has been attributed to persons employed in the mining sector, only 2% of the NT workforce was employed in this industry, a decrease from 2.4% in 2001.

In 2006, Professionals (18%) was the most common occupation in the Northern Territory, followed by Technician and Trades Worker (15%) and Clerical and Administrative worker (15%). Labourers (12%) and Managers (12%) were also in the top five occupations in the NT.

In the period from December quarter 2005 to December quarter 2006 all Statistical Subdivisions (SSD) in the Northern Territory experienced a fall in unemployment rate. The lowest unemployment rate was in the SSD of Darwin (2.5%), whilst the highest observed unemployment rate was in the SSD of Daly (15.4%).

Further information on employment in the Northern Territory can be found from the following sources:

Department of Employment and Workplace Relations

Labour Force, Australia, August 2007 (cat. no. 6202.0)

Census Tables (cat. no. 2068.0)