LABOUR FORCE

Job Vacancies

In original terms, Queensland's total number of job vacancies decreased to 28,500 in May 2010 from 31,600 in February 2010. The May 2010 vacancies were 10% lower than in February 2010. Public sector vacancies accounted for 11% of total job vacancies in February 2010.

Recent changes

The previous issue of Job Vacancies, Australia (February 2010) 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 August 2010, total employment in Queensland in trend terms was 2,311,800 persons. Full-time employed persons (1,645,200) accounted for 71% of total employed persons. Males accounted for 65% of full-time employed persons and 54% of total employed persons.

Unemployment

The trend estimate of the number of unemployed persons in Queensland for August 2010 was 132,700 persons. This equates to an unemployment rate of 5.4%. The Queensland trend unemployment rate has been higher than the national unemployment rate from August 2009 onwards.

In Queensland in August 2010, the trend male unemployment rate was 5.2% and the trend female unemployment rate was 5.7%. 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 increasing and higher than the male unemployment rate in trend terms.

Participation Rate

The trend estimate of the participation rate for Queensland in August 2010 was 67.5%. The Queensland trend participation rate was 2.5 percentage points higher in August 2010 than in August 2000. It was 2.1 percentage points higher than the national participation rate in August 2010.

For Queensland, the trend female participation rate remained stable at 61.2% in August 2010. The female participation rate has been over 60% since June 2006 and in August 2010 was 4.5 percentage points higher than that recorded in August 2000.

The trend male participation rate in August 2010 was 73.9%. This was 0.3 percentage points higher than the rate recorded for August 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 2,286,300 employed persons in Queensland in May 2010. The five industries with the most number of employed persons were Retail trade (260,100), Health care and social assistance (257,100), Construction (230,400), Manufacturing (192,000), and Accommodation and food services (170,600). Those industries employing the least number of persons included Electricity, gas, water and waste services (28,300), Information, media and telecommunications (30,400), and Arts and recreation services (37,600).

The five industries with the most number of employed persons accounted for almost 48% of Queensland's employed persons.

In the year May 2009 to May 2010, the greatest proportional increase of employed persons occurred in the Administrative and Support Services (30%). In the same period, Information Media and Telecommunications had the greatest proportional decrease in employed persons with a reduction of 23%.

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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