SUMMARY OF FINDINGS


OVERVIEW

An estimated 12.7 million persons aged 15 years and over had worked at some time during the year ending February 2012. Of these, 90% (11.4 million) were employed at February 2012, 5% were unemployed and a further 5% were not in the labour force. Of the 11.4 million persons who were working at February 2012, 80% (9.1 million) had been with their current employer/business for one year or more and 20% (2.3 million) had been with their current employer/business for less than 12 months. Other characteristics of persons who worked at some time during the year include:

• 54% (6.8 million) were males and 46% (5.9 million) were females;
• 18% were aged between 15 and 24 years, 65% were aged between 25 and 54 years and 17% were aged 55 years and over;
• 27% were born overseas; and
• 62% were married.

PERSONS WHO WORKED AT SOME TIME DURING THE YEAR


The distribution of age groups, for persons who had worked at some time during the year ending February 2012, was similar for males and females. The most prevalent age groups being 25-34 years (representing 23% of males and 22% of females), 35-44 years (22% of both males and females) and 45-54 years (20% of males and 21% of females).


PERSONS WORKING AT FEBRUARY 2012

There were 11.4 million persons aged 15 years and over who were working at February 2012. They comprised 10.2 million persons (89% of persons working at February 2012) who had not changed employer/business in the last 12 months and 1.2 million persons (11% of persons working at February 2012) who had changed their employer/business in the previous 12 months.


Duration with employer/business

There were 2.3 million persons working at February 2012 who had been with their employer/business for less than 12 months, while 9.1 million persons had been working with the same employer/business for one year or more.

Of those working at February 2012, the following occupation groups had the highest proportion of persons who had worked with their current employer for 5 years or more:

• Managers 60%;
• Professionals 49%; and
• Clerical and administrative workers 47%.

Persons working in these occupations were also least likely to have worked for their current employer/business for less than one year.

Proportionally more persons in the following occupation groups worked with their current employer for less than one year:

• Sales workers and Labourers (each 27%);
• Machinery operators and drivers 26%; and
• Community and personal service workers 25%.

There were 2.9 million persons who were working at February 2012 who had been with their current employer/business for 10 years or more. This represents 27% of males and 23% of females who were working at February 2012. Industry groups with the highest proportion of persons who had been with their current employer/business for 10 years or more were:

• Agriculture, forestry and fishing (54%);
• Education and training (35%);
• Public administration and safety (34%); and
• Manufacturing (30%).

Working at February 2012 and have been with current employer/business for less than 12 months

An estimated 2.3 million persons working at February 2012 had been with their current employer/business for less than 12 months.

Characteristics for these persons include:

• 29% were aged 25-34 years;
• 53% were males;
• 17% were Professionals, 15% were Technicians and trades workers, and 14% were Clerical and administrative workers;
• 13% worked in the Retail trade industry and 11% worked in the Accommodation and food services industry;
• 42% usually worked 35-40 hours per week and 20% usually worked 1-19 hours per week; and
• 42% were without a non-school qualification, while a further 19% held a Bachelor degree.

Of the 2.3 million persons working at February 2012 who had been with current employer/business for less than 12 months, 1.2 million persons (56% of males and 44% of females) changed employer/business in the last 12 months. Of these persons:

• 57% had changed industry Division;
• 42% had changed Major occupation group; and
• 73% had changed usual hours worked.

Of those who had been with their employer/business for less than 12 months, a higher proportion of males in each age group reported a change in employer/business than females, except for those aged 15-19 years (23% of males and 36% of females) and those aged 60 and over (41% of males, 47% of females).

For males working with their current employer/business at February 2012 for less than 12 months, the age groups where change in employer/business was most common were 35-44 years and 45-54 years (65% and 64% respectively). For females, the age groups where change in employer/business was most common were 55-59 years and 25-34 years (both 58%).


Working at February 2012 and have been with their current employer/business for one year or more

There were 9.1 million persons who were employed at February 2012 and had been with their current employer/business for one year or more. Characteristics for these persons include:

• 24% were aged 45-54 years;
• 55% were males;
• 23% were Professionals;
• 12% worked in the Health care and social assistance industry and 10% worked in the Retail trade industry;
• 23% usually worked 35-39 hours each week;
• 35% were without a non-school qualification;
• 21% held a Bachelor Degree; and
• 19% held a Certificate III/IV.

Employees¹ who had a change in work

There were 7.3 million employees¹ working at February 2012, who had been with their current employer for one year or more (52% were males and 48% were females). Approximately one quarter (26%) of these persons had experienced some change in work in the last 12 months, with 3% changing Major occupation group, 13% changing their usual hours worked, and 17% being promoted and/or transferred.

The age groups with the highest proportion of employees who reported a change in work, were those aged 25-34 years (31% of males and 36% of females) followed by the 20-24 year age group (30% of males and 34% of females). The most common occupation group for employees reporting a change in work for both genders was Managers (31% for males and 36% for females). The occupation group with the lowest proportion of males who reported a change in work was Machinery operators and drivers (16%) compared to Labourers for females (19%).


Owner managers and contributing family workers who had a change in work

There were 1.8 million owner managers and contributing family workers who were working at February 2012 and who had been working in their current business for one year or more. Of these, 260,600 persons (13% of males and 16% of females) had changed the hours they usually worked during the 12 months prior to February 2012.


Persons who ceased a job during the year

Approximately 2.5 million persons (20% of those who worked at some time during the year) ceased a job during the same period. Over one third of these persons (37%), left their last job for involuntary reasons and the remaining 1.6 million persons (63%), left their last job voluntarily. The most common reasons, for persons who voluntarily left a job were:

• 20% (497,400) to obtain a better job or conditions or wanted a change, of whom 56% were males; and
• 14% (345,600) because of unsatisfactory work conditions, of whom 53% were females.

The most common reasons, for persons who involuntarily left a job were:

• 17% (422,900) because the job was temporary or seasonal; and
• 16% (389,600) were retrenched or their employer went out of business, of whom 62% were males.

END NOTES

1. Excludes owner managers of incorporated enterprises (OMIEs) and contributing family workers.