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CHAPTER 10. OTHER MEASURES OF THE ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE POPULATION

INTRODUCTION

10.1 This chapter addresses a number of ABS statistics relating to the economically active population which were not discussed elsewhere. Previous chapters have discussed the concept of economic activity Chapter 2, and measures of the currently active population (Chapters 3 to 7) and of the usually active population Chapter 9. Concepts underlying the statistics included in this chapter supplement those discussed earlier. They are explained somewhat more briefly because they are discussed in depth in other ABS publications; or are self explanatory; or are ancillary to the main concepts.

LABOUR FORCE GROWTH

10.2 Statistics on labour force entry and exit provide information on labour force growth. Major sources of labour force growth occur through the entry of leavers from educational institutions and from net overseas migration. In addition, some persons re-enter the labour force after a period of absence (e.g. persons who have been looking after children). Reasons for departure from the labour force include, but are not restricted to:

• retirement from work;
• withdrawal from work to gain educational qualifications; and
• withdrawal from work to care for children.

• intend to retire from full-time work - those persons who indicated that they intend to give up working or looking for full-time work;
• intend to retire from the labour force - those persons who indicated that they intend to give up all labour force activity, i.e. working or looking for work;
• partial retirement - persons who had retired from full-time work or looking for full-time work, and were working or looking for part-time work;
• retired from the Labour Force - persons who had retired from work or looking for work of more than 10 hours per week, and did not intend to work at any time in the future. These persons are considered fully retired. Persons who have never worked more than 10 hours per week are also treated as fully retired; and
• retired from part-time work - persons who had ceased part-time labour force activity, i.e. working or looking for work of 10-34 hours per week, and who did not intend to work or look for work of 10-34 hours per week at any time in the future.

• Labour Force Survey Chapter 20 - data relevant to exits and entries include gross flows statistics which provide information on movements between 'in the labour force' and 'not in the labour force';
• The supplement to the Labour Force Survey, Persons Not In the Labour Force Survey Chapter 21.10 - data relevant to exits and entries include information on reasons not in the labour force and on work preferences;
• The supplement to the Labour Force Survey, Labour Force Experience Survey Chapter 21.5 - data relevant to exits and entrance include information on labour force experiences over a 12 month period, including time spent working, looking for work, and neither working nor looking for work;
• The supplement to the Labour Force Survey, Job Search Experience Survey Chapter 21.17 - data relevant to exits and entries includes information on duration of unemployment, main difficulties in finding work, steps taken to find work and duration of looking for work; and
• Barriers and Incentives to Labour Force Participation Chapter 22.1 - data relevant to exits and entries include information on barriers to labour force participation, reasons for not being available to work (more) and reasons not looking for (more) work.

• Labour Force Survey Chapter 20 - gross flows data provide information on movements between labour force states including movements between employment and unemployment;
• The supplement to the Labour Force Survey, the Labour Force Experience Survey Chapter 21.5 - data relevant to labour market dynamics include information on time spent working, looking for work, and neither working nor looking for work;
• The supplement to the Labour Force Survey that focuses on unemployment, the Job Search Experience Survey Chapter 21.17 - data relevant to labour market dynamics include the job search experiences of the unemployed and recent job starters.
• Survey of Employment and Unemployment Patterns Chapter 24 - data relevant to labour market dynamics include information on labour force activities undertaken over a three year period, including information on periods of work, looking for work and absences from the labour force.

• Superannuation account - an individual's holdings in a superannuation fund.
• Superannuation fund (also known as a superannuation scheme or superannuation plan) - any fund, association or organisation set up for the purpose of providing benefits for members on their retirement, or in other specified circumstances.
• Superannuation coverage - a set of categories describing the types of contributions being made to superannuation (for those who are working or who intend to work in the future, i.e. pre-retirement) or whether any benefit has been received from superannuation (for those who are not working and do not intend to work in the future, i.e. who are retired). The categories used are:
  • Working or intending to work in the future
    Personal or spouse contributions only
    Personal or spouse and employer or business contributions
    Employer or business contributions only
    Has superannuation, but no contributions being made
    Has no superannuation
  • Not working and not intending to work in the future
    Not receiving income from superannuation or annuities and no lump sum received
    Receiving income from superannuation or annuities or has received a lump sum