• Summary
• Downloads
• Explanatory Notes
• Related Information
• Past Releases

INTRODUCTION


INTRODUCTION

This publication presents key findings from the survey of Flexible Working Arrangements in Queensland which was conducted in October 2010. The main variables collected about flexible working arrangements are analysed in relationship to a range of demographic information. Information was collected about caring, volunteering, and work preferences and these variables are considered in terms of the demographic information collected. More detailed information, to allow analysts to conduct more in-depth exploration of the survey data, is available in the associated data cubes that were released at the same time as this publication.

The main focus of this survey was to provide information to allow analysis of how employed people used their flexible working arrangements to manage their caring and volunteering responsibilities. The data reported in this publication provides a unique combination of data on workforce participation, workplace flexibility, caring responsibilities and volunteering from a single source.

The results from this survey will provide information for government agencies in developing and assessing progress on policies related to addressing the needs of a changing labour force. The information collected will also allow Queensland Government to consider progress in some areas of its state plan, Toward Q2: Tomorrow's Queensland 2020.


SURVEY SCOPE AND DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY LABOUR FORCE STATUS

The scope of the Flexible Working Arrangements in Queensland survey was restricted to people aged 15 years and over who were usual residents of private dwellings. The survey was run as a supplement to the Labour Force Survey and standard labour force exclusions in coverage apply. There were also specific exclusions for the Flexible Working Arrangements in Queensland to ensure the survey scope met client needs.

In the Flexible Working Arrangements in Queensland survey, a reduced module was used to ascertain employment type than is used in the Labour Force Survey. As a result the data contained in this publication may differ from the Labour Force Survey. In addition, the employed total (as shown in the diagram below) includes respondents whose employment type was not determined.

The following diagram shows the population represented by the Flexible Working Arrangements in Queensland survey and how this is distributed among the standard labour force status groups.


THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE SURVEY POPULATION BY AGE GROUP AND SEX

Those people who were permanently unable to work and those who were 65 years of age and over and never intended to return to work were excluded from the survey. The reason for this is that the focus of the survey was on flexible working arrangements and how workers used their flexible working arrangements to manage their caring and volunteering responsibilities.