1367.0 - State and Territory Statistical Indicators, 2011  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 23/01/2012   
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LABOUR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE


  • In December 2011, the trend labour force participation rate in NSW was 63.6%, unchanged from the previous month, and down from the most recent high of 64.1% in the period November 2010 to January 2011. The national rate in December 2011 was 65.4%.
  • In seasonally adjusted terms, the labour force participation rate was 63.5%, little changed from the previous month.


Graph Image for Labour Force Participation Rate, NSW


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How many people participate in the labour force in your state or territory?

The participation rate represents the labour force (total employed and unemployed who are actively looking for work) expressed as a percentage of the civilian population aged 15 years and over, in the same group. Labour force estimates are derived from the Labour Force Survey component of the Monthly Population Survey. Information is obtained from the occupants of selected dwellings by specially trained interviewers using computer-assisted interviewing.

A person's experience of the labour market will vary according to a number of factors, including the economic conditions at any given time, and their age. For example, the chance of someone finding a job decreases during a recession, while the likelihood of participating in the labour force varies as circumstances change, particularly in relation to family and education commitments. Factors affecting someone's peer group can also have a similar influence on labour market activity - people of different generations may have different expectations and experiences.