The ABS has a range of data available on request from the Persons Not in the Labour Force Survey. This section lists the data items and populations which relate to the survey. More detailed breakdowns of some data items may also be available on request.
The population(s) for a particular data item refers to the person in the survey to whom the data item relates. Where alternative output categories are available for the same data item, these are shown and the data item name is followed by bracketed numeral (e.g.Country of birth(2)).
For more information about ABS data available on request, contact National Information and Referral Service in Canberra on 1300 135 070 or via email to <client.services@abs.gov.au> or contact Labour Supplementary Survey Section on (02) 6252 7206 or via email to <labour.statistics@abs.gov.au>. The ABS Privacy Policy outlines how the ABS handles any personal information that you provide to us.
Persons not in the labour force who wanted to work but were not actively looking for work and were available to start work within four weeks
Persons not in the labour force who wanted to work but were not actively looking for work and were not available to start work within four weeks
Persons not in the labour force because they were caring for children, who wanted to work but not actively looking for work
Data items | Populations |
|
1 | State or territory of usual residence | All |
| | New South Wales | |
| | Victoria | |
| | Queensland | |
| | South Australia | |
| | Western Australia | |
| | Tasmania | |
| | Northern Territory | |
| | Australian Capital Territory | |
2 | Area of usual residence | All |
| | State capital city | |
| | Balance of state/territory | |
3 | Region of usual residence | All |
| | Standard labour force dissemination regions | |
4 | Sex | All |
| | Males | |
| | Females | |
5 | Social marital status | All |
| | Married | |
| | Not married | |
6 | Relationship in household | All |
| | Family member | |
| | | Husband, wife or partner | |
| | | | With dependants | |
| | | | Without dependants | |
| | | Lone parent | |
| | | | With dependants | |
| | | | Without dependants | |
| | | Dependent student | |
| | | Non-dependent child | |
| | | Other related individual | |
| | Non-family member | |
| | | Lone person | |
| | | Not living alone | |
| | Relationship not determined | |
7A | Country of birth and period of arrival | All |
| | Born in Australia | |
| | Born overseas | |
| | | Arrived before 1971 | |
| | | Arrived 1971-1980 | |
| | | Arrived 1981-1990 | |
| | | Arrived 1991-2000 | |
| | | Arrived 2001-2010 | |
| | | Arrived 2011 to survey date | |
7B | Country of birth (1) | All |
| | Born in Australia | |
| | Born overseas | |
| | | Born in main English-speaking countries | |
| | | Born in other than main English-speaking countries | |
7C | Country of birth (2) | All |
| | Born in Australia | |
| | Born overseas | |
| | | Oceania and Antarctica | |
| | | North-West Europe | |
| | | Southern and Eastern Europe | |
| | | North Africa and the Middle East | |
| | | South-East Asia | |
| | | North-East Asia | |
| | | Southern and Central Asia | |
| | | Americas | |
| | | Sub-Saharan Africa | |
8 | Age group (years) | All |
| | 15-19 | |
| | 20-24 | |
| | 25-34 | |
| | 35-44 | |
| | 45-54 | |
| | 55-59 | |
| | 60-64 | |
| | 65-69 | |
| | 70 and over | |
| | Note: Age collected in single years | |
9 | Full-time study status (15-24 year olds) | All |
| | Full-time students | |
| | Not full-time students | |
| | Did not know | |
10A | Persons not in the labour force summary variable | 1, 8, 10 |
| | With marginal attachment to the labour force | |
| | | Wanted to work and were actively looking for work | |
| | | | Were available to start work within four weeks | |
| | | | Were not available to start work within four weeks | |
| | | Wanted to work but were not actively looking for work and were available to start work within four weeks | |
| | | | Discouraged job seekers | |
| | | | Other | |
| | Without marginal attachment to the labour force | |
| | | Wanted to work but were not actively looking for work and were not available to start work within four weeks | |
| | | Did not want to work (including did not know) | |
| | | Permanently unable to work | |
10B | Marginal attachment summary variable | 3 |
| | Wanted to work and were actively looking for work | |
| | | Were available to start work within four weeks | |
| | | Were not available to start work within four weeks | |
| | Wanted to work but were not actively looking for work and were available to start work within four weeks | |
| | | Discouraged job seekers | |
| | | Other | |
11 | Whether wanted to work | 1, 8, 10 |
| | Wanted to work | |
| | Might want to work | |
| | Did not want to work | |
| | Did not know | |
| | Permanently unable to work | |
12 | Whether looked for work in the last 12 months | All |
| | Had looked for work | |
| | | Less than 5 weeks ago | |
| | | 5 weeks and less than 8 weeks ago | |
| | | 8 weeks and less than 13 weeks ago | |
| | | 13-52 weeks ago | |
| | | | 13 weeks and less than 26 weeks ago | |
| | | | 26 weeks and less than 39 weeks ago | |
| | | | 39-52 weeks ago | |
| | Had not looked for work | |
13 | Main activity when not in the labour force | All |
| | Retired or voluntarily inactive | |
| | Home duties | |
| | Caring for children | |
| | Attending an educational institution | |
| | Own long-term health condition or disability | |
| | Own short-term illness or injury | |
| | Looking after ill or disabled person | |
| | Travel, holiday or leisure activity | |
| | Working in unpaid voluntary job | |
| | Other | |
14A | Time since last job | All |
| | Had a job | |
| | | Under 12 months | |
| | | | 1 week and under 4 weeks | |
| | | | 4 weeks and under 8 weeks | |
| | | | 8 weeks and under 13 weeks | |
| | | | 13 weeks and under 26 weeks | |
| | | | 26 weeks and under 39 weeks | |
| | | | 39 weeks and under 52 weeks | |
| | | 1 year and under 3 years | |
| | | 3 years and under 10 years | |
| | | | 3 years and under 5 years | |
| | | | 5 years and under 10 years | |
| | | 10 years or more | |
| | | | 10 years and under 20 years | |
| | | | 20 years or more | |
| | Never had a job | |
14B | Whether had a job in the last 20 years | All |
| | Had a job | |
| | | Last job less than 20 years ago | |
| | | Last job 20 or more years ago | |
| | Never had a job | |
15 | Reason for ceasing last job | All |
| | Had a job | |
| | | Lost a job | |
| | | | Retrenched, made redundant, employer went out of business, dismissed, no work was available | |
| | | | Job was temporary or seasonal | |
| | | | Own short-term illness or injury | |
| | | | Own business closed down for economic reasons | |
| | | Left a job | |
| | | | Unsatisfactory work arrangements | |
| | | | Retired, did not work any longer | |
| | | | Own long-term health condition or disability | |
| | | | Returned to studies | |
| | | | Pregnancy or to have children | |
| | | | To get married | |
| | | | To look after family, house or someone else | |
| | | | To have holidays, moved house or spouse transferred | |
| | | | Own business closed down for other than economic reasons | |
| | | | Other | |
| | Never had a job | |
16 | Occupation in last job | All |
| | Last job less than 20 years ago | |
| | | Managers | |
| | | Professionals | |
| | | Technicians and trades workers | |
| | | Community and personal service workers | |
| | | Clerical and administrative workers | |
| | | Sales workers | |
| | | Machinery operators and drivers | |
| | | Labourers | |
| | Last job 20 or more years ago | |
| | Never had a job | |
17A | Status in employment in last job (1) | All |
| | Last job less than 20 years ago | |
| | | Employer | |
| | | Own account worker | |
| | | Employee | |
| | | Contributing family worker | |
| | | Unpaid voluntary worker | |
| | Last job 20 or more years ago | |
| | Never had a job | |
17B | Status in employment in last job (2) | All |
| | Last job less than 20 years ago | |
| | | Employee | |
| | | Own account worker/Employer | |
| | | Other | |
| | Last job 20 or more years ago | |
| | Never had a job | |
18 | Full-time or part-time status in last job | All |
| | Last job less than 20 years ago | |
| | | Full-time | |
| | | Part-time | |
| | | Varied/Did not know | |
| | Last job 20 or more years ago | |
| | Never had a job | |
19A | Intention to enter the labour force | All |
| | Intends to enter | |
| | Might enter | |
| | Does not intend to enter | |
| | Does not know | |
| | Permanently unable to work | |
19B | Intention to enter the labour force in the next 12 months | All |
| | Intends to enter | |
| | Might enter | |
| | Does not intend to enter | |
| | Does not know | |
| | Permanently unable to work | |
20 | Full-time or part-time preference | All |
| | Full-time | |
| | Part-time | |
| | Did not know | |
| | Not intending to work | |
21 | Main reason for not actively looking for work | 4 |
| | Wanted to work but were not actively looking for work and were available to start work within four weeks | |
| | | Discouraged job seekers | |
| | | | Considered too young by employers | |
| | | | Considered too old by employers | |
| | | | Believes ill health or disability discourages employers | |
| | | | Lacked the necessary schooling, training, skills or experience | |
| | | | Difficulties because of language or ethnic background | |
| | | | No jobs in locality or line of work | |
| | | | No jobs in suitable hours | |
| | | | No jobs at all | |
| | | Other | |
| | | | Personal reasons | |
| | | | | Own short-term illness or injury | |
| | | | | Own long-term health condition or disability | |
| | | | | Pregnancy | |
| | | | | Attending an educational institution | |
| | | | | Had no need to work | |
| | | | | Welfare payments or pension may be affected | |
| | | | | Moved house or holidays | |
| | | | Family reasons | |
| | | | | Ill health of other than self | |
| | | | | Caring for children | |
| | | | | | No child care in locality | |
| | | | | | No child care available at all | |
| | | | | | Cost or too expensive | |
| | | | | | Booked out or no places available | |
| | | | | | Children too young or too old | |
| | | | | | Prefers to look after children | |
| | | | | | Quality of child care unsuitable | |
| | | | | | Other reasons | |
| | | | | Other family considerations | |
| | | | Other reasons | |
| | | | Had a job to go to | |
| | | | Did not know | |
22 | All reasons for not actively looking for work | 4 |
| | Discouraged job seekers | |
| | | Considered too young by employers | |