1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2003  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 24/01/2003   
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Contents >> Industry Overview >> Changes in hours worked by industry

Table 13.4 shows that, over the period 1992-93 to 2000-01, hours worked for all industries combined increased on average by 2.1% per year. The most substantial average annual increase was recorded in the Property and business services industry (up 7.4%); the most substantial average annual fall was in the Electricity, gas and water supply industry (down 3.1%).

The Property and business services industry showed the largest increase in hours worked over 2000-01 (up 9.6%). Hours worked fell across a number of industries, with the largest decreases during 2000-01 being in Wholesale trade (down 4.9%), Agriculture, forestry and fishing (down 3.8%) and Construction (down 3.5%).

The reductions in hours worked should be considered in the context of the corresponding increases in labour productivity achieved by some industries. Most notably Electricity, gas and water supply, with an average annual decrease in hours worked since 1992-93 of 3.1% per year, shows an average annual increase in labour productivity of 5.6% over this period. This issue is discussed in greater depth in the next section, Changes in labour productivity.

It is interesting to compare the growth in hours worked with the growth in wages over the same period. In Manufacturing, hours worked hardly changed over the period 1992-93 to 2000-01, while wages for this industry grew at an average annual rate of 4.7%. For the Agriculture, forestry and fishing industry there was a similar trend, with hours worked showing minimal change over the period 1992-93 to 2000-01, while wages increased at an average annual rate of 8.5%. Across all industries, the average annual change in wages was 5.9% per year, compared with an average growth in hours worked of 2.1% per year.

In evaluating changes in hours worked, it is important to recognise that industry restructuring, outsourcing of some functions and contract employment have impacted more substantially on some industries than others. More detail on employment changes over time is included in Labour.


13.4 INDEXES(a) OF HOURS WORKED

2000-01
Change from 1999-2000
Average annual rate of
growth 1992-93 to 2000-01
Industry
Index number
%
%

Agriculture, forestry and fishing
96.2
-3.8
0.1
Mining
98.4
-1.6
-0.9
Manufacturing
99.2
-0.8
0.1
Electricity, gas and water supply
105.2
5.2
-3.1
Construction
96.5
-3.5
3.4
Wholesale trade
95.1
-4.9
0.5
Retail trade
99.9
-0.1
1.8
Accommodation, cafes and restaurants
108.4
8.4
4.6
Transport and storage
103.9
3.9
2.3
Communication services
105.2
5.2
5.3
Finance and insurance
102.6
2.6
1.2
Property and business services
109.6
9.6
7.4
Government administration and defence
102.7
2.7
-0.7
Education
103.4
3.4
1.8
Health and community services
106.4
6.4
3.0
Cultural and recreational services
100.5
0.5
4.1
Personal and other services
97.9
-2.1
2.4
All industries
101.8
1.8
2.1

(a) Reference year 1999-2000 = 100.0.

Source: Australian System of National Accounts, 2000-01 (5204.0).



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