2017.7 - Census of Population and Housing: Selected Education and Labour Force Characteristics for Statistical Local Areas, Northern Territory, 2001  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 08/04/2003   
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NORTHERN TERRITORY

INTRODUCTION


STATISTICS PRESENTED IN THIS PUBLICATION

This publication presents a range of education and labour force statistics produced from the 2001 Census of Population and Housing for the Northern Territory (NT). For comparative purposes, it includes 1996 Census data presented on 2001 Census geography.

The tables in this publication provide selected characteristics of the population for Statistical Divisions (SDs), Statistical Subdivisions (SSDs) and Statistical Local Areas (SLAs). The purpose of these tables is to allow a broad comparison of characteristics between geographic areas.

This publication also contains the Basic Community Profile (BCP) for NT. This set of tables is provided to illustrate the wide range of data available from the Census. The BCP consists of 33 tables. This publication contains tables 22 to 33 which focus on education and labour force characteristics. The remainder of the BCP, tables 1 to 21, is published in Census of Population and Housing: Selected Social and Housing Characteristics for Statistical Local Areas, Northern Territory (cat. no. 2015.7).

The statistics in this publication are presented on the basis of where people were counted on Census Night ('as enumerated' counts).

One of the important features of the Census is that it describes the characteristics of Australia's population for small geographic areas and small population groups. While not available in this publication, data at the smallest geographic level (Collection District) are available in a range of census products. For more information on these products, please refer to the Appendix-Census Products and Services. Concepts and definitions used in this publication are explained in the Glossary and more detailed information is available in the 2001 Census Dictionary (cat. no. 2901.0). The Explanatory Notes in this publication provide a discussion of the scope and coverage of the Census, the different measures of population, and the limitations of census data.

This publication is one of a series of publications which provide data at SLA level for each state and territory. A similar publication is also available for the whole of Australia, providing data at the SSD level. See the Appendix-Census Products and Services for more information.


SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

LABOUR FORCE

In the Northern Territory (NT), the labour force grew from 89,603 to 96,148 persons aged 15 years and over, an increase of 7.3%, compared with 6.6% for Australia.

The growth in the NT's labour force can be attributed to an increase in the number of employed persons aged 50 years and over, up from 12,254 persons in 1996 to 17,705 persons in 2001, an increase of 44.5%. The population of persons aged 50 years and over grew 26.7% in the same period. This indicates that a proportion of persons aged 50 years and over may be re-entering the work force following a period in retirement.


EMPLOYED

In 2001, there were 90,434 employed persons of which 60,671 were full-time workers and 26,919 were part-time. This represented an increase of 9.0% (7,457 persons) since 1996 which was the third largest increase of all states and territories, after Victoria (10.5%) and Queensland (10.4%).

Full-time/Part-time

In 2001, there was a marginal fall in the proportion of full-time workers who represented 63.1% of the labour force, down from 63.4% in 1996. This fall was the smallest of all states and territories.

In the period 1996 to 2001, the number of persons employed part-time grew from 23,940 in 1996 to 26,919 in 2001, an increase of 12.4%, compared with 17.6% for Australia. These workers represented 28.0% of the labour force in 2001, compared with 26.7% in 1996.

Among most of the NT SSDs, both the unemployment rate and full-time employment rate are lower in 2001 than in 1996. The lower unemployment rate is associated with increased part-time employment.

The most notable SSD representing this was Barkly which experienced a decrease in the proportion of full-time employees (to 55.8% from 60.3% of the labour force), an increase in part-time employees (to 35.1% from 28.6%) and a fall in the unemployment rate (to 5.3% from 8.3%).

Graph: Full/Part-Time Employed and Unemployment Rate. Differences in proportions of the labour force, 1996 to 2001



Another notable example of this is the SSD of Daly (unemployment rate decreased to 5.8% from 14.4%, while the proportion of part-time employed persons increased to 29.1% from 19.7%, and full-time employees decreased to 61.2% from 61.4%).

East Arnhem was the only SSD to experience an increase in the unemployment rate while incurring the second largest increase in proportion of persons employed full-time within the labour force (to 62.1% from 59.2%). East Arnhem also recorded the second largest decline in the proportion of persons employed part-time to (30.9% from 32.6%).

The largest increase in the proportion of persons employed full-time within the labour force was recorded in the SSD of Bathurst-Melville (to 37.3% from 19.4%), while the largest decrease was recorded in the Lower Top End NT (to 55.0% from 61.7%).

After the Daly SSD, the largest increase in the proportion of persons employed part-time within the labour force was Finniss (to 32.5% from 24.6%), while the largest decrease was recorded in Bathurst-Melville (to 46.8% from 60.3%).

In 2001, the SLAs with the highest proportions of full-time workers, as a proportion of persons in the labour force, were recorded in Litchfield (S) - Pt A (74.4%), Nhulunbuy (73.3%), Palmerston Bal (71.5%) and City - Remainder (71.4%). Off-Shore Areas and Migratory also had a high proportion (84.4%).
The highest concentration of part-time workers, as a proportion of persons in the labour force, was recorded in Lee Point-Leanyer Swamp (66.8%) where the majority of the population was counted in caravan parks. High proportions of part-time workers were concentrated in regional areas, for example Gulf (53.5%), Sandover - Bal (52.4%), Tennant Creek - Bal ( 52.1%), and West Arnhem (49.2%).

Occupation

In 2001, the largest occupation groups were Professionals (15,687 persons or 17.3%), Intermediate Clerical and Service Workers (14,233 persons or 15.7%), Associate Professionals (12,668 persons or 14.0%), Tradespersons and Related Workers (12,271 persons or 13.6%) and Labourers and Related Workers (9,033 persons or 10.0%). These proportions are similar to those in 1996.

High proportions of persons employed as Professionals were recorded in the Darwin SD, notably in Rapid Creek (29.8%), Brinkin (29.2%), Tiwi (28.9%), Nightcliff (27.1%), Fannie Bay (26.3%) and Nakara (25.2%). Alice Springs - Stuart and Alice Springs - Ross also had high proportions of persons employed as Professionals (25.2% and 22.3% respectively).

The highest proportions (ranging from 19.8% to 16.7%) of persons working as Associate Professionals were recorded in SLAs within the Darwin SD. Alice Springs - Stuart and Off-Shore Areas and Migratory had the highest proportions outside Darwin (16.6% and 25.8% respectively).

Persons employed as Intermediate Clerical, Sales and Services Workers were widespread throughout NT. The SLAs of Bakewell (21.7%) and Anula (20.8%) recorded the highest proportions. The SLA of Petermann (20.1%) which includes the Uluru National Park, also recorded a high proportion of persons employed in this occupation group.

The highest proportions of persons employed as Tradespersons and Related Workers were recorded in Litchfield - Pt A (42.7%), City-Remainder (28.0%), Nhulunbuy (20.5%), Lee Point - Leanyer Swamp (17.6%), and Winnelie and Woodroffe (both 17.4%). Off-Shore Areas and Migratory also had a high proportion of persons employed as Tradespersons and Related Workers (28.2%).

SLAs with the highest proportions of persons employed as Labourers and Related Workers were concentrated throughout the SSDs of Bathhurst-Melville (25.0%), Barkly (24.7%), Daly (24.1%), Alligator (20.5%) and Lower Top End (20.1%).

Industry

In 2001, the four largest industries of employment in the NT were Government Administration and Defence (15,963 persons or 17.7%), Retail Trade (10,729 persons or 11.9%), Health and Community Services (7,976 persons or 8.8%) and Property and Business Services (7,673 persons or 8.5%). These industries were also the top four industries in the NT in 1996. The top four industries in Australia in 2001 were Retail Trade, Manufacturing, Property and Business, and Health and Community.

At the SLA level, the highest proportions of persons employed in Government Administration and Defence were recorded in Litchfield - Pt A (66.7%), City - Remainder (60.2%), West Arnhem (58.0%) and Gulf (51.0%). Other SLAs with high proportions of persons employed in this industry were East Arnhem - Bal (47.7%), Tennant Creek - Bal (44.4%) and Off-Shore Areas and Migratory (60.5%).

Since 1996, there has been an increase in the percentage of persons employed in Retail Trade to 11.9% from 11.0%. Most of the metropolitan SLAs within the Darwin SD recorded high proportions of persons employed in Retail Trade including Wagaman (18.9%), Moulden (18.5%), Coconut Grove (17.4%) and Winnellie (17.3%). Outside of Darwin, Alice Springs recorded the highest proportions, notably the SLAs of Alice Spring - Charles (16.2%), Alice Spring - Larapinta (15.7%), Alice Spring - Ross (14.1%) and Alice Spring - Heavitree (13.6%).

High proportions of persons employed in Health and Community Services were scattered throughout both metropolitan and regional SLAs. The highest proportions of persons employed in this industry were recorded in Tiwi (21.0%), Alice Springs - Stuart (17.5%), Bathurst - Melville (14.7%), Brinkin (14.4%) and Tennant Creek (13.8%).

Since 1996, the percentage of persons employed in Property and Business Services increased to 8.5% from 7.6%. The highest proportions were recorded in the metropolitan SLAs of Fannie Bay (15.6%) and The Gardens (14.9%). Alice Springs - Stuart (10.3%), Alice Springs - Ross (9.0%) and Alice Springs - Larapinta (8.0%) also registered high proportions of persons employed in this industry.


UNEMPLOYMENT

The unemployment rate fell to 5.9% in 2001 from 7.4% in 1996. For Australia, the unemployment rate was 7.4% in 2001.

The proportion of unemployed persons looking for full-time work fell from 79.0% in 1996 to 76.0% in 2001, while the proportion looking for part-time work increased from 21.0% in 1996 to 24.0% in 2001.

In the Darwin SD, SLAs with the highest unemployment rates were Winnellie (12.9%), Narrows (12.8%), Moulden (12.4%) and Gray (11.0%). Outside of the Darwin SD, the SLAs of Cox - Finnis (14.2%), Bathurst-Melville (13.1%) and Elsey - Bal (12.9%) recorded the highest unemployment rates.

The SSDs that experienced the largest declines in unemployment rates between 1996 and 2001 were Daly (to 5.8% from 14.4%), Finniss (to 10.1% from 13.6%) and Alligator (to 4.6% from 7.9%).

For those aged 15-24 years, the unemployment rate fell to 10.5% in 2001 from 13.1% in 1996. This compares with a fall to 13.8% in 2001 from 15.7% in 1996 in Australia.

The SLAs with the highest youth unemployment rates were Narrows (29.4%), Bathurst-Melville (26.4%), Elsey - Bal (22.4%), Winnellie (21.6%) and Moulden (21.0%).


NON-SCHOOL QUALIFICATION

Level of Education

In 2001, there were 50,484 persons aged 15 years and over with a qualification, accounting for 32.9% of all persons aged 15 years and over in the NT. Between 1996 and 2001 this proportion rose from 28.8% (an increase of 9,744 persons). This compares with a rise to 34.7% from 30.0% for Australia.

Graph: Non-School Qualification: Level of Education, Proportion of persons aged 15 years and over with a qualification



Of those with a qualification, around half (24,491 persons or 48.5%) held a Certificate, 25.0% (12,606 persons) held a Bachelor Degree, 17.2% (8,668 persons) held an Advanced Diploma and Diploma and 9.3% (4,719 persons) held a Postgraduate Degree or Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate as their highest level of qualification.

Within the Darwin SD, high proportions of persons aged 15 years and over with a Bachelor Degree or higher were recorded in Brinkin (23.8%), Rapid Creek (23.4%), Fannie Bay (22.5%), Nightcliff (22.4%) and Nakara (20.7%). These same areas also recorded high proportions of persons employed as Professionals. Alice Springs - Ross (18.2%) and Jabiru (16.3%) had the highest concentrations of persons with a Bachelor Degree or higher outside Darwin.

High proportions of persons aged 15 years and over with a Certificate as their highest level of qualification were dispersed throughout the Territory. Nhulunbuy (24.4%), Bakewell (22.5%), City - Remainder (22.1%), Litchfield - Pt B (22.0%) and Jabiru (21.5%) recorded the highest. Off-Shore Areas and Migratory also noted a high proportion (29.5%). These SLAs also registered high proportions of persons employed as Tradespersons.


Field of Study

Graph: Non-School Qualification: Field of Study, Proportion of persons aged 15 years and over with a qualification



Engineering and Related Technologies (14,179 persons or 19.7% of those with a qualification), Management and Commerce (8,143 persons or 11.3%), Health (5,923 persons or 8.2%) and Education (5,495 persons or 7.6%) were the fields in which people most commonly held their highest level of qualification. Other, which includes Society and Culture, Creative Arts, Food, Hospitality and Personal Services, and Mixed Programmes (15.5% of persons with a qualification) also recorded a high proportion.