6105.0 - Australian Labour Market Statistics, Apr 2012  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 10/04/2012   
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Contents >> Labour Statistics News >> Recently Released Supplementary Surveys on Labour Topics

RECENTLY RELEASED SUPPLEMENTARY SURVEYS ON LABOUR TOPICS

The Monthly Population Survey comprises the Labour Force Survey and a range of supplementary surveys which provide detailed information on a range of topics. Recently released results from supplementary surveys on labour-related topics can be found in Underemployed Workers, Australia, Sep 2011 (cat. no. 6265.0) and Persons Not in the Labour Force, Australia, Sep 2011 (cat. no. 6220.0).

RELEASE OF UNDEREMPLOYED WORKERS

In March 2012, the ABS released Underemployed Workers, Australia, Sep 2011 (cat. no. 6265.0) which presents information about the characteristics of underemployed workers aged 15 years and over. The number of underemployed workers is an important component of underutilised labour resources in the economy, along with the number of unemployed and some people with marginal attachment to the labour force. Underemployed workers are defined as part-time workers who want, and are available for more hours of work than they currently have, and full-time workers who worked part-time hours during the reference week for economic reasons (such as being stood down or insufficient work being available).

Of the 11.5 million employed people aged 15 years and over in September 2011, 10.6 million were fully employed and 879,000 were not fully employed, of whom 786,800 were underemployed.

Of the 786,800 underemployed workers, 722,600 usually worked part-time, but would prefer more hours and were available to start work with more hours either in the reference week, or in the four weeks following the interview; and 64,300 usually worked full-time, but worked part-time hours in the reference week due to economic reasons (for example, no work or not enough work available, been stood down, or on short time).
More details are available from the publication.

RELEASE OF PERSONS NOT IN THE LABOUR FORCE

In March 2012, the ABS released Persons Not in the Labour Force, Australia, Sep 2011 (cat. no. 6220.0) which presents information about people aged 15 years and over who are not in the labour force: that is, neither employed nor unemployed. The data measure the potential supply of labour not reflected in employment and unemployment statistics, and measure the characteristics of that potential supply. Information collected in the survey includes details about whether people not in the labour force wanted to work, reasons why they were not actively looking for work, or were not available for work, and their main activity while not in the labour force.

In September 2011, there were almost 6 million people aged 15 years and over who were not in the labour force. This represented 33% of the civilian population aged 15 years and over. Since September 2008, people aged 15 years and over who were not in the labour force comprised approximately one-third of the civilian population.

Of those people not in the labour force:
  • 60% were women;
  • 22% wanted to work (23% of women not in the labour force and 20% of men not in the labour force); and
  • 16% were aged 15-24 years, 40% were aged 25-64 years and 31% were aged 70 years and over.

More details are available from the publication



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