LABOUR FORCE

Job Vacancies

In original terms, Queensland's total number of job vacancies increased to 33,400 in August 2010 from 28,500 in May 2010. The August 2010 vacancies were 17% higher than in May 2010. Public sector vacancies accounted for 14% of total job vacancies in August 2010.

Recent changes

The February 2010 issue of Job Vacancies, Australia was the first issue since May 2008 due to the suspension of the Job Vacancies Survey (JVS) in 2008/2009. The February 2010 issue presents job vacancy estimates for both November 2009 and February 2010.

Caution should be used when comparing estimates from November 2009 onwards with estimates for May 2008 and previous periods, due to the changes outlined below.

Gap in series

As a result of JVS being suspended, there is a gap in all series: original, seasonally adjusted and trend, for five quarters between August 2008 and August 2009 inclusive. The ABS cannot produce reliable estimates by collecting this missing data retrospectively, and has not been able to fill the gap using other data sources and modelling techniques.

Statistical changes implemented in November 2009

A new sample is being used in the JVS from November 2009, based on ANZSIC 2006 and incorporating improvements to the survey frame.

Implementation of ANZSIC 2006

From November 2009, industry statistics presented are on the basis of Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC), 2006 edition. Industry data up to May 2008 are only available on an ANZSIC 1993 basis.

Further information on this topic can be accessed at Job Vacancies, Australia (cat. no. 6354.0).


Employed Persons

In September 2010, total employment in trend estimate terms was 2,320,900 persons, an increase of 4,500 from the previous month. This growth continued in October 2010, with total employment in Queensland in trend terms rising to 2,326,000 persons, a further increase of 5,100 from September 2010. In November 2010, the growth slowed slightly, reaching 2,330,600 persons, an increase of 4,700 from October. Full-time employed persons, 1,650,300 in September rose to 1,652,800 in October and 1,654,800 in November. Full-time employed persons accounted for 71% of total employed persons in September, October and November. This proportion has been declining steadily since September 2008. Males accounted for 64% of full-time employed persons and 54% of total employed persons in November 2010.

Unemployment

The trend estimate of the number of unemployed persons in Queensland for September was 134,000 persons. In October this rose to 134,800 persons and in November to 135,700 persons. This equates to unemployment rates of 5.5% for each month. The Queensland trend unemployment rate has been higher than the national unemployment rate from August 2009 onwards.

In Queensland in September and October 2010, the trend male unemployment rate was 5.2% and rose to 5.3% in November. The trend female unemployment rate was 5.7% in September and 5.8% in October and November. From November 2008 to February 2010, female unemployment rates were lower than male unemployment rates. From March 2010 onwards, the female unemployment rate has been higher than the male unemployment rate in trend terms.

Participation Rate

The trend estimate of the participation rate for Queensland was 67.6% stable from April to October 2010 and rose to 67.7% in November. The Queensland trend participation rate in November was 3.1 percentage points higher than in November 2000. It was 1.9 percentage points higher than the national participation rate in September and 1.8 percentage points higher in October and November 2010.

For Queensland, the trend female participation rate was 61.6% in September, 61.8% in October and 61.9% in November 2010. The female participation rate has been over 60% since June 2006 and in November 2010 was 5.2 percentage points higher than that recorded in November 2000.

The trend male participation rate in November 2010 was 73.6%. This was 0.9 percentage points higher than the rate recorded for November 2000.

Further information on these topics can be accessed at Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0) or by contacting the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070. These publications are released monthly.


Employed Persons by Industry

There were 2,287,600 employed persons in Queensland in August 2010. The five industries with the most number of employed persons were Retail trade (258,600), Health care and social assistance (251,200), Construction (229,700), Manufacturing (203,200), and Education and training (171,300). Those industries employing the least number of persons included Information, media and telecommunications (32,400), Electricity, gas, water and waste services (33,400), and Arts and recreation services (35,600).

The five industries with the most number of employed persons accounted for almost 49% of Queensland's employed persons.

In the year August 2009 to August 2010, the greatest proportional increase of employed persons occurred in the Information Media and Telecommunications industry (23%). In the same period, the Other Services industry had the greatest proportional decrease in employed persons with a reduction of 14%.

Note: Employed persons by industry has been reported in original terms and cannot be directly compared with the trend estimates reported for Labour Force.

For more detailed information on this topic, please refer to Labour Force, Australia, Detailed, Quarterly (cat. no. 6291.0.55.003) or contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070. This publication is released quarterly.

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