SUMMARY OF FINDINGS


OVERVIEW

In July 2010, there were 578,700 people (307,200 men and 271,500 women) who were unemployed. Of these:

• 80% of unemployed men were looking for full-time work;
• 38% of unemployed women were looking for part-time work;
• 39% were aged between 15 and 24 years; and
• 23% were aged 45 years and over.

In July 2010, there were 1.4 million job starters (employed people who had started their current job in the previous 12 months). Of these:

• 58% searched for work for less than 1 year before starting current job;
• 66% were working full-time;
• 29% were aged between 25 and 34 years; and
• 20% were aged 45 years and over.

UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE

Duration of unemployment

The majority (82%) of unemployed people had been unemployed for less than one year. The percentage of unemployed people who had been unemployed for one year or more increased from 16% in 2009 to 18% in 2010. The median duration of unemployment decreased from 16 weeks in July 2009 to 14 weeks in July 2010.


Difficulties in finding work

In July 2010, the main difficulty in finding work for unemployed people was 'too many applicants for available jobs' (14%), followed by 'insufficient work experience' (11%). Whereas, in July 2009, the most commonly reported main difficulties in finding work were 'too many applicants for available jobs' (15%) and 'no vacancies in line of work' (11%).

The difficulties in finding work for unemployed people varied with age, whether they were men or women, how long they have been unemployed and what type of work they were looking for (full-time or part-time).

The main difficulty for people aged 15-19 years was 'insufficient work experience' (19%) whereas, the main difficulty in finding work for people aged 45 years and over was 'considered too old by employers' (17%).

For unemployed men the most commonly reported main difficulties in finding work were:

• 'too many applicants for available jobs' (14%);
• 'insufficient work experience' (11%); and
• 'no vacancies in line of work' (10%).

For unemployed women the most commonly reported main difficulties in finding work were:

• 'too many applicants for available jobs' (14%);
• 'insufficient work experience' (12%); and
• 'unsuitable hours' (9%).

For long-term unemployed people the most commonly reported main difficulties were:

• 'too many applicants for available jobs' (14%);
• 'too far to travel/transport problems' and 'own ill-health or disability' (13% each).

For people who had been unemployed for less than 1 year the most commonly reported main difficulties were:

• 'too many applicants for available jobs' (14%); and
• 'insufficient work experience' (11%); and
• 'no vacancies in line of work' (9%).

There were 57,600 unemployed people who reported that they had 'no difficulties at all' in finding work. Of those reporting no difficulties, 74% had been unemployed for less than eight weeks.


All steps taken to find work

In July 2010, the percentage of people looking for full-time work decreased to 72% of unemployed people, from 75% in 2009. The most common steps taken to find work (both full-time and part-time) reported by unemployed people were:

• 'wrote, phoned or applied in person to an employer for work' (85%);
• 'looked at advertisements for jobs in a newspaper' (80%);
• 'looked at advertisements on the Internet' (78%); and
• 'answered an advertisement for a job on the Internet' (60%).

For steps taken to find work, the largest percentage point difference between long-term unemployed people and those who had been unemployed for less than 1 year were:

• 'registered with Centrelink as a job seeker' (77% and 43% respectively);
• 'registered with a Job Services Australia provider' (66% and 36% respectively); and
• 'answered an advertisement for a job in a newspaper' (69% and 51% respectively).

Older and younger unemployed

In July 2010, 39% (223,500) of unemployed people were aged 15-24 years compared to 23% (133,900) of unemployed people who were aged 45 years and over.

The most common steps taken to find work reported by those aged 15-24 years were 'wrote, phoned or applied in person to an employer for work' (79%) and 'looked at advertisements for a job on the Internet' (77%). Whereas the most common steps reported by those aged 45 years and over were 'wrote, phoned or applied in person to an employer for work' and 'looked at advertisements for a job in the newspaper' (86% each).


ALL JOB STARTERS

In July 2010 there were 1.4 million job starters (employed people who started their current job in the previous 12 months). Of these:

• 93% were employees;
• 36% usually worked part-time hours, of whom 37% preferred to work more hours;
• 61% were aged 15-34 years;
• 6% were aged 55 years and over;
• 59% had a non-school qualification;
• 58% looked for work for less than 1 year before attaining their current job (of whom 42% looked for work for between 1 and 13 weeks);
• 5% looked for work for 1 year or more; and
• 38% did not look for work.

EMPLOYEE¹ JOB STARTERS

In July 2010 there were 1.3 million employee¹ job starters, of whom 43% did not have paid leave entitlements in their current job. Of those without leave entitlements:

• 44% were aged 15-24 years;
• 16% were aged 45 and over; and
• 55% were women.

The majority (90%) of employee¹ job starters had worked before. Of these:

• 61% had changed employer to start their current job;
• 39% were out of work prior to starting their current job; and
• 30% were aged 25-34.

All steps taken to attain a job

Of employee¹ job starters, the most commonly reported step to attain a job was 'wrote, phoned or applied in person to an employer for work' (58%). For the steps taken to attain a job, the largest percentage point difference between those who had worked before and first job holders were:

• 'contacted friends or relatives' (32% and 39% respectively);
• 'registered with other employment agency' (12% and 5% respectively);
• 'looked at advertisements for jobs on the Internet' (48% and 42% respectively); and
• 'looked at advertisement for jobs in the newspaper' (37% and 31% respectively).

END NOTE

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