LABOUR FORCE
Age groups
Occupation
Industry
Usual hours
Average Weekly Earnings
Underutilisation rate
Age groups
EMPLOYED PERSONS(a), by age |
|  |
| September 2003 | September 2007 | September 2008 | |
| Full time | Part time | Full time | Part time | Full time | Part time | |
| Age group (years) | '000 | % | '000 | % | '000 | % | '000 | % | '000 | % | '000 | % | |
Australian Capital Territory | |
| |
| 15 - 24 | 18.1 | 14.0 | 16.5 | 36.2 | 19.8 | 13.9 | 16.4 | 35.6 | 20.9 | 14.6 | 15.2 | 32.1 | |
| 25 - 34 | 35.3 | 27.3 | 6.3 | 13.7 | 36.9 | 26.0 | 6.3 | 13.7 | 38.5 | 26.8 | 7.0 | 14.9 | |
| 35 - 44 | 30.7 | 23.7 | 9.3 | 20.4 | 33.7 | 23.7 | 8.5 | 18.4 | 33.1 | 23.1 | 8.7 | 18.4 | |
| 45 - 54 | 31.8 | 24.6 | 7.7 | 16.8 | 34.0 | 23.9 | 6.6 | 14.4 | 32.8 | 22.9 | 7.5 | 16.0 | |
| 55 - 64 | 12.6 | 9.8 | 4.6 | 10.0 | 16.8 | 11.8 | 6.2 | 13.5 | 16.7 | 11.7 | 6.9 | 14.6 | |
| 65 and over | *0.9 | 0.7 | *1.3 | 3.0 | *1.1 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 4.4 | *1.4 | 1.0 | 1.9 | 4.0 | |
| Total | 129.4 | 100.0 | 45.6 | 100.0 | 142.2 | 100.0 | 46.0 | 100.0 | 143.5 | 100.0 | 47.1 | 100.0 | |
Australia | |
| |
| 15 - 24 | 909.8 | 13.5 | 770.2 | 28.5 | 1 033.0 | 13.9 | 818.7 | 27.7 | 1 059.7 | 13.9 | 831.3 | 27.5 | |
| 25 - 34 | 1 736.0 | 25.8 | 444.3 | 16.4 | 1 819.6 | 24.4 | 437.4 | 14.8 | 1 867.8 | 24.4 | 447.9 | 14.8 | |
| 35 - 44 | 1 719.2 | 25.5 | 597.1 | 22.1 | 1 806.8 | 24.3 | 627.6 | 21.2 | 1 838.4 | 24.0 | 628.1 | 20.8 | |
| 45 - 54 | 1 596.4 | 23.7 | 502.9 | 18.6 | 1 748.4 | 23.5 | 555.3 | 18.8 | 1 803.1 | 23.6 | 556.4 | 18.4 | |
| 55 - 64 | 697.4 | 10.4 | 304.0 | 11.2 | 923.8 | 12.4 | 393.7 | 13.3 | 955.3 | 12.5 | 418.4 | 13.9 | |
| 65 and over | 74.0 | 1.1 | 85.0 | 3.1 | 113.0 | 1.5 | 122.5 | 4.1 | 124.9 | 1.6 | 138.7 | 4.6 | |
| Total | 6 732.7 | 100.0 | 2 703.5 | 100.0 | 7 444.5 | 100.0 | 2 955.2 | 100.0 | 7 649.1 | 100.0 | 3 020.8 | 100.0 | |
| |
| (a) Annual averages. |
| Source: Labour Force, Australia, Detailed - Electronic Delivery (cat. no. 6291.0.55.001). |
Employed full time
The number of Australian Capital Territory (ACT) usual residents employed full time in the 12 months ending September 2008 was 143,500, similar from the previous year (142,200), and up 11% (14,100) from the 12 months ending September 2003 (129,400). The average number of people employed full time in Australia (Aust.) in the 12 months ending September 2008 was 7.6 million up 3% (204,600) from the year to September 2007 (7.4 million), and up 14% (916,400) from the year to September 2003 (6.7 million).
Key highlights for the ACT:
- The number of people employed full time aged 25-34 years was higher than any other age group. Nationally, the proportions were more consistent across persons aged 25-34, 35-44 and 45-54.
- Although similar to the year ended September 2007, the 55-64 year age group made up nearly 2 percentage points more of the ACT workforce, in the year to September 2008 relative to the year ended September 2003 (12% versus 10%). Again this was similar to what happened nationally (13% in 2008 versus 10% in 2003).
- In the latest month the proportion of persons aged 15-34 years was 41%, compared to 38% nationally. This pattern was consistent with the previous two periods shown.
Employed part time
The number of ACT usual residents employed part time in the 12 months ending September 2008 was 47,100, up slightly from the previous year (46,000). Nationally, the average number of people employed part time in 2008 was 3.0 million up 2% (65,600) from 2007.
Key highlights for the ACT:
- The proportion of people employed part time aged 15-24 years has been consistently higher than any other age group, in the ACT and nationally. However, it has been declining in the ACT from 36% in 2003 to 32% in 2008. Nationally the fall was only one percentage point (29% to 28% between 2003 and 2008).
- The 55-64 years age group experienced an increase, from 10% of total part-time employed persons to 15% of total part-time employed persons between 2003 and 2008. Nationally, there was also a proportionate rise in this age group, although not as strong (11% to 14%).
Occupation
EMPLOYED PERSONS(a): Australian Capital Territory |
| |
| August 2003 | August 2008 | |
| Occupation major group(b) | '000 | % | '000 | % | |
| |
| Managers and Administrators | 14.0 | 8.0 | 21.4 | 11.2 | |
| Professionals | 52.3 | 30.0 | 53.7 | 28.2 | |
| Associate Professionals | 22.8 | 13.1 | 30.5 | 16.0 | |
| Tradespersons and Related Workers | 14.4 | 8.3 | 14.7 | 7.7 | |
| Advanced Clerical and Service Workers | 5.3 | 3.1 | 6.5 | 3.4 | |
| Intermediate Clerical, Sales and Service Workers | 34.9 | 20.0 | 34.9 | 18.3 | |
| Intermediate Production and Transport Workers | 6.6 | 3.8 | 6.1 | 3.2 | |
| Elementary Clerical, Sales and Service Workers | 16.8 | 9.6 | 15.1 | 7.9 | |
| Labourers and Related Workers | 7.3 | 4.2 | 7.4 | 3.9 | |
| Total | 174.4 | 100.0 | 190.4 | 100.0 | |
| |
| (a) Annual average of quarterly data. |
| (b) Classified according to the Australian Standard Classification of Occupations (ASCO), Second Edition, 1997. |
| Source: Labour Force, Australia, Detailed, Quarterly (cat. no 6291.0.55.003). |
Based on occupation by major group,
Professionals made up the largest proportion of employed persons in the ACT for the year ending August quarter 2008 (28%). The group with the largest increase over five years (2003 to 2008) was
Associate Professionals, with 7,700 more persons employed in the year ending August quarter 2008 than over the same period for 2003. The group with the largest percentage increase was
Managers and Administrators, (53% or 7,400 persons). The group experiencing the largest decrease was
Elementary Clerical, Sales and Service Workers, falling 10% from the year ending August quarter 2003 (1,700 persons).
Industry
EMPLOYED PERSONS(a), by industry: Australian Capital Territory |
| |
| August 2003 | August 2008 | |
| Industry division(b) | '000 | % | '000 | % | |
| |
| Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing | *0.5 | 0.3 | *0.3 | 0.2 | |
| Mining | - | - | - | - | |
| Manufacturing | 5.4 | 3.1 | 3.8 | 2.0 | |
| Electricity, Gas and Water Supply | *1.2 | 0.7 | *1.1 | 0.6 | |
| Construction | 10.1 | 5.8 | 15.1 | 7.9 | |
| Wholesale Trade | 2.9 | 1.7 | 3.0 | 1.6 | |
| Retail Trade | 22.1 | 12.7 | 18.2 | 9.5 | |
| Accommodation, Cafes and Restaurants | 8.5 | 4.9 | 9.3 | 4.9 | |
| Transport and Storage | 3.7 | 2.1 | 4.5 | 2.4 | |
| Communication Services | 3.5 | 2.0 | 2.7 | 1.4 | |
| Finance and Insurance | 2.8 | 1.6 | 5.1 | 2.7 | |
| Property and Business Services | 24.2 | 13.9 | 26.8 | 14.1 | |
| Government Administration and Defence | 44.0 | 25.2 | 53.1 | 27.9 | |
| Education | 14.7 | 8.5 | 14.5 | 7.6 | |
| Health and Community Services | 15.2 | 8.7 | 16.1 | 8.5 | |
| Cultural and Recreational Services | 6.9 | 3.9 | 7.8 | 4.1 | |
| Personal and Other Services | 8.5 | 4.9 | 8.9 | 4.7 | |
| Total | 174.4 | 100.0 | 190.4 | 100.0 | |
| |
| * estimate is subject to sampling variability too high for most practical purposes |
| - nil or rounded to zero (including null cells) |
| (a) Annual average of quarterly data. |
| (b) Classified according to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC), 1993 edition. |
| Source: Labour Force, Australia, Detailed, Quarterly (cat. no. 6291.0.55.003). |
Based on employment by industry division the largest employer in the ACT for the 12 months ending August quarter 2008 was
Government Administration and Defence (53,000). This was also the industry with the largest increase between 12 months ended August 2003 and 12 months ended August 2008 (9,100 persons). The industry with the largest percentage increase was
Finance and Insurance (82% or 2,300 persons).
Manufacturing had the largest percentage decrease (30% or 1,600 persons).
Usual hours
EMPLOYED PERSONS(a), by usual hours worked |
| |
| September 2008 | |
| Full time | Part time | |
| '000 | % | '000 | % | |
Australian Capital Territory | |
| |
| 0 hours | - | - | *0.3 | 0.7 | |
| 1-15 hours | *0.2 | 0.2 | 19.3 | 40.9 | |
| 16-29 hours | *0.8 | 0.6 | 18.8 | 39.8 | |
| 30-34 hours | *1.1 | 0.8 | 8.8 | 18.6 | |
| 35-39 hours | 52.9 | 36.9 | - | - | |
| 40 hours | 39.9 | 27.8 | - | - | |
| 41-44 hours | 8.2 | 5.7 | - | - | |
| 45-49 hours | 16.6 | 11.6 | - | - | |
| 50-59 hours | 16.5 | 11.5 | - | - | |
| 60 or more hours | 7.1 | 5.0 | - | - | |
| Total | 143.5 | 100.0 | 47.1 | 100.0 | |
Australia | |
| |
| 0 hours | *3.0 | - | 24.4 | 0.8 | |
| 1-15 hours | 13.0 | 0.2 | 1 155.2 | 38.2 | |
| 16-29 hours | 49.9 | 0.7 | 1 302.0 | 43.1 | |
| 30-34 hours | 74.4 | 1.0 | 539.2 | 17.9 | |
| 35-39 hours | 2 265.3 | 29.6 | - | - | |
| 40 hours | 2 268.2 | 29.7 | - | - | |
| 41-44 hours | 334.3 | 4.4 | - | - | |
| 45-49 hours | 836.0 | 10.9 | - | - | |
| 50-59 hours | 1 051.5 | 13.7 | - | - | |
| 60 or more hours | 753.5 | 9.9 | - | - | |
| Total | 7 649.1 | 100.0 | 3 020.8 | 100.0 | |
| |
| - nil or rounded to zero (including null cells) |
| (a) Annual average monthly data. |
| Source: Labour Force, Australia, Detailed - Electronic Delivery (cat. no. 6291.0.55.001). |
Usual hours worked by employed persons, on average, during the 12 months ending September 2008 differed between the ACT and Aust. A smaller proportion of full-time workers in the ACT worked 41 hours or more per week (34%) compared with Aust. (39%), while a larger proportion worked between 35-40 hours than the national average (ACT 65%, Aust. 59%). In the 12 months ending September 2008 the most common hours usually worked by people employed part time in the ACT were 1-15 hours (41%) and 16-29 hours (40%). Nationally, the largest proportion of part-time employed people worked 16-29 hours per week (43%).
Average weekly earnings
AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS: Trend |
| |
| | August 2007 | August 2008 | |
Australian Capital Territory | |
| |
| Earnings | $ | 1 029.7 | 1 086.5 | |
| Percentage change from previous quarter | % | 0.8 | 1.3 | |
| Percentage change from corresponding quarter of previous year | % | -1.2 | 5.5 | |
Australia | |
| |
| Earnings | $ | 869.3 | 897.9 | |
| Percentage change from previous quarter | % | 0.9 | 0.9 | |
| Percentage change from corresponding quarter of previous year | % | 4.6 | 3.3 | |
| |
| Source: Average Weekly Earnings, Australia (cat. no. 6302.0). |
In trend terms, Average Weekly Earnings (AWE) for the ACT in August 2008 were $189 higher than the national average of $898 at $1,087. This was an increase of 1.3% from May 2008. AWE increased 5.5% between August 2007 and August 2008 for the ACT, from $1,030 to $1,087. The increase over the same period for Aust. was 3.3%, bringing AWE from ($869 to $898).
Underutilisation rate
LABOUR FORCE UNDERUTILISATION RATE(a)(b): Trend
In trend terms, the underutilisation rates for the ACT and Aust. declined gradually between August 2001 and August 2008. The national underutilisation rate fell by 4.2 percentage points, from 14.2% in August 2001 to 10.0% in August 2008. The ACT underutilisation rate fell by 2.9 percentage points, from 10.6% to 7.7% over the same period. The ACT underutilisation rate was generally between 3 and 4 percentage points lower than the national rate over the period.
