6209.0 - Labour Mobility, Australia, Feb 2008 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 28/10/2008   
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SUMMARY OF FINDINGS


OVERVIEW

An estimated 11.3 million people aged 15 years and over had worked at some time during the year ending February 2008, whilst 10.5 million were working at February 2008. Of the 10.5 million who were working at February 2008, 78% had been with their current employer/business for one year or more and 22% had been with their current employer/business for less than 12 months.

Overall, there were 1.2 million people (12% of people working at February 2008) who had changed their employer/business in the previous 12 months. Conversely, there were 9.3 million people (88% of people working at February 2008) who had not changed their employer/business in the last 12 months. This consisted of 1.1 million who were working with their employer/business at February 2008 for less than 12 months and reported they had not changed employer/business, and 8.2 million people who had worked with their employer/business at February 2008 for one year or more. This is similar to 2006, where there were 9.9 million people working at February 2006, and 12% of these had changed their employer/business in the previous 12 months, while 88% had not changed their employer/business.


PEOPLE WHO WORKED AT SOME TIME DURING THE YEAR

Of the 11.3 million people who had worked at some time during the year ending February 2008, 54% (6.1 million) were men and 46% (5.2 million) were women. The majority (66%) were aged between 25 and 54 years.

Persons who worked at some time during the year ending February 2008, Age and sex distribution
Graph: Persons who worked at some time during the year ending February 2008, Age and sex distribution


The distribution of age groups for people who had worked at some time during the year was similar for men and women. The most prevalent age groups being 35-44 years (representing 23% of men and 23% of women who worked at some time during the year ending February 2008), 25-34 years (22% of men and 22% of women) and 45-54 years (21% of men and 22% of women).

An estimated 18% (2 million people) of those who worked at some time during the year ending February 2008 had ceased a job during the year. Of these, there were 611,000 (30%) who had ceased a job involuntarily (job losers) and 1.4 million people (70%) who had ceased a job voluntarily (job leavers). One quarter (24%) of job leavers ceased their last job due to unsatisfactory working conditions.


PEOPLE WORKING AT FEBRUARY 2008

There were 10.5 million people aged 15 years and over who were working at February 2008.

Persons who were working at February 2008, Usual hours worked at February 2008 - By sex
Graph: Persons who were working at February 2008, Usual hours worked at February 2008 - By sex


Of those working at February 2008, there were proportionally more women who worked part-time (less than 35 hours per week) and more men who worked 40 hours or more. For example 7% of men who were working at February 2008, worked 1-19 hours, compared to over 22% of women. Conversely, 7% of women who were working at February 2008 worked 49 hours or more, compared to 24% of men.


Duration with employer/business

There were 2.3 million people working at February 2008 who had been with their employer/business for less than 12 months, while 8.2 million people had been working with the same employer/business for one year or more.

Persons working at February 2008, Duration with employer/business by occupation
Graph: Persons working at February 2008, Duration with employer/business by occupation


Of those working at February 2008, the occupation groups with the highest proportion of people who had been with their employer/business for less than 12 months were Labourers (32%) and Sales workers (32%). The occupation group with the highest proportion of people who had been with their employer/business for one to less than five years was Sales workers (44%). The occupation group with the highest proportion of people who had been with their employer/business for five years or more were Managers (57%), followed by Professionals (48%). Conversely, the occupation group with the lowest proportion of people who had been with their employer/business for five years or more was Sales workers (24%).

There were 2.5 million people who were working at February 2008 and had been with their current employer/business for 10 years or more. This represents 27% of men and 21% of women who were working at February 2008. Industry groups with the highest proportion of people who had been with their current employer/business for 10 years or more were:
  • 'Agriculture, forestry and fishing' (53%)
  • 'Education and training' (35%)
  • 'Public administration and safety' (34%)
  • 'Electricity, gas, water and waste services' (34%).


Working at February 2008 and have been with current employer/business for less than 12 months

There were 2.3 million people working at February 2008 who had been with their current employer for less than 12 months. The main characteristics for these people were:
  • 26% were aged 25-34 years
  • 52% were men
  • 17% were Professionals, 16% were Labourers and 16% were Clerical and administrative workers
  • 14% worked in the 'Retail trade' industry and 9% worked in the 'Health care and social assistance' industry
  • 42% usually worked 35-40 hours and 21% worked 1-19 hours
  • 48% were without a non-school qualification and 17% held a Bachelor degree.

In relation to changes in work for these people (from their last employer/business in the previous 12 months to their current employer/business),
  • 30% had changed industry Division
  • 24% had changed Major occupation group
  • 39% had changed usual hours worked.
Working at February 2008 and with employer/business for less than 12 months, Changed employer/business in the last 12 months - By age
Graph: Working at February 2008 and with employer/business for less than 12 months, Changed employer/business in the last 12 months - By age


Of the 2.3 million people working at February 2008 who had been with their current employer/business for less than 12 months, 1.2 million (55% of men and 48% of women) changed employer/business in the last 12 months. A higher proportion of men in each age group reported a change in employer/business than women, except for those aged 20-24 years (55% of men and 59% of women aged 20-24 years).

For men working with their current employer/business at February 2008 for less than 12 months, the age groups where change in employer/business was most common were 25-34 years and 35-44 years (both 63% of men in each age group). While for women, the age groups where change in employer/business was most common were 20-24 years and 25-34 years (59% and 54% of women in each age group respectively).


Working at February 2008 and have been with their current employer/business for one year or more

There were 8.2 million people who were employed at February 2008 and had been with their current employer/business for one year or more.

The main characteristics for these people were:
  • 25% were aged 45-54 years
  • 56% were men
  • 22% were Professionals and 16% were Technicians and trades workers
  • 11% worked in the 'Health care and social assistance' industry and 11% worked in the 'Retail trade' industry
  • 22% usually worked 35-39 hours each week
  • 40% were without a non-school qualification
  • 18% held a Bachelor Degree and 18% held a Certificate III/IV.

Employees1 who had a change in work

There were 6.4 million employees1 working at February 2008 who had been with their current employer for one year or more, 53% were men and 47% were women. More than a quarter (27%) of these people had experienced some change in work in the last 12 months with 3% changing Major occupation group, 13% changing their usual hours worked and 18% being promoted and/or transferred.

Employees(a) working at February 2008 and with employer for one year or more, Some change in work - By age and sex
Graph: Employees (a) working at February 2008 and with employer for one year or more, Some change in work - By age and sex


Of the 6.4 million employees1 who had been with their current employer for one year or more, 25% of men and 30% of women experienced some change in work with their current employer/business in the last 12 months. The age groups with the highest proportion of people who reported a change in work were those aged 25-34 years (31% of men and 37% of women) followed by those in the 20-24 year age group (30% of men and 37% of women). The occupation groups with the highest proportion of people who reported a change in work were Professionals and Managers (both 33% in each Major occupation group) whilst the least common were Labourers and Machinery operators (both 18% in each Major occupation group).

Owner managers who had a change in work

There were 1.8 million owner managers (including contributing family workers) aged 15 years and over who were working at February 2008 and had been working in their current business for one year or more. About 13% (11% of men and 15% of women) had changed the usual hours they worked during the 12 months to February 2008.


PERSONS WORKING AT FEBRUARY 2007 AND AT FEBRUARY 2008

There were 9.4 million people who were working at February 2007 and February 2008, of which 1.2 million (13%) had worked for less than 12 months with their current employer/business at February 2008 and 8.2 million (87%) had worked for their current employer/business at February 2008 for one year or more.


END NOTES

1.Excludes owner managers of incorporated enterprises (OMIEs)