6261.0.55.001 - Characteristics of Wage and Salary Earners in Regions of Australia, 2000-01  
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MAIN FEATURES - INNER REGIONAL AUSTRALIA


INTRODUCTION

Inner Regional Australia is defined in the remoteness structure as those areas where geographic distance imposes some restriction upon accessibility to the widest range of goods, services and opportunities for social interaction. Parts of Australia classified to Inner Regional include Tamworth and Wagga Wagga in New South Wales, Ballarat and Bendigo in Victoria, Rockhampton, Bundaberg and Gladstone in Queensland, the Adelaide Hills region in South Australia, Bunbury in Western Australia and Hobart and Launceston in Tasmania. There are no areas classified to Inner Regional in the Northern Territory. Darwin is classified as Outer Regional. Further details regarding all Remoteness Structure areas, including a map, are provided in the accompanying APPENDIX - REMOTENESS STRUCTURE.

The following main features describe the major differences in the characteristics of wage and salary earners in Inner Regional Australia compared with Australia as a whole and should be read in conjunction with the EXPLANATORY NOTES and GLOSSARYLinks to main features for other Remoteness Structure areas are situated on the Main Features - Australia page, which also highlights comparisons between each remoteness class. Detailed tables for each state and territory, by remoteness class, can be accessed through the data cubes.

MAIN FEATURES - INNER REGIONAL AUSTRALIA

During 2000-01 there were 1.36 million wage and salary earners located in Inner Regional Australia. This represents an increase of 5.9% since 1995-96 and a 1.0% increase over the number of wage and salary earners in 1999-2000. The average annual rate of increase over the last five years has been 1.1%. In 2000-01, 18.3% of all wage and salary earners in Australia were located in Inner Regional areas. This compares with 19.8% of the estimated resident population aged between 15 and 64 years, the primary ages when people are in the labour force.

Total wage and salary income paid to employees in Inner Regional Australia in 2000-01 was $42.0 billion. This was $1.9 billion (4.7%) more than the previous year and $8.8 billion (26.4%) more than recorded in 1995-96. The average annual rate of increase over the last five years has been 4.8%, just marginally below the Australian average annual rate of increase of 4.9%.

For the financial year 2000-01, the median individual annual wage and salary income for wage and salary earners in Inner Regional was $27,951, up by 2.9% over the previous year ($27,164). Since 1995-96 the median has increased by 15.6% from $24,177, or at an average annual rate of 2.9%. This was slightly lower than the Australian average annual rate of increase of 3.2% over the same period.

In 2000-01, the median annual wage and salary income in Inner Regional areas was $2,519 or 8.3% lower than the median for Australia. In 1995-96 the difference was $1,862 or 7.2%. In 2000-01, the median in Inner Regional was marginally above the median for Outer Regional areas ($27,451) and lower than the medians for all other remoteness classes.

WAGE AND SALARY EARNERS, Inner Regional, 1995-96 to 2000-01
% Change
1995-96
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-00
2000-01
1999-00 to 2000-01
1995-96 to 2000-01(a)
Wage and salary earners (no.)
1,286,490
1,292,080
1,317,926
1,336,494
1,348,102
1,361,808
1.0
1.1
Wage and salary income ($m)
33,202
34,718
36,745
38,552
40,107
41,975
4.7
4.8
Median annual wage and salary income ($)
24,177
24,988
25,714
26,495
27,164
27,951
2.9
2.9
Australian median annual wage and salary income ($)
26,309
26,919
27,775
28,705
29,509
30,470
3.3
3.2
(a) Average annual rate of increase.
Note: Indigenous persons engaged in CDEP may be included in the above data for the years 1995-96 to 1997-98 and excluded for 1998-99 onwards. Consequently changes between 1997-98 and 1998-99 and 1995-96 and 2000-01 in particular need to be treated with caution. For further details please refer to the Explanatory Notes.
Source: ATO Income Tax Data.

MEDIAN ANNUAL WAGE AND SALARY INCOME,
Inner Regional and Australia, 1995-96 to 2000-01

Graph: Median Annual Wage and Salary Income, Inner Regional and Australia, 1995-96 to 2000-01

Source: ATO Income Tax Data.


SEX DISTRIBUTION

In 2000-01, there were around 734,600 (53.9%) male and 627,200 (46.1%) female wage and salary earners in Inner Regional areas. These proportions differ slightly to those for total Australia (54.8% male and 45.2% female). The median annual wage and salary income for males was $33,865 while for females it was $22,498, compared with national median wage and salary incomes of $36,403 for males and $25,091 for females.

WAGE AND SALARY EARNERS, by Sex, Inner Regional, 2000-01
Males
Females
Persons
Wage and salary earners (no.)
734,552
627,248
1,361,800
Median annual wage and salary income ($)
33,865
22,498
27,951
Australian median annual wage and salary income ($)
36,403
25,091
30,470
Note: Due to the randomisation process applied to small cells for confidentiality purposes, totals for each characteristic and geographic area may differ from table to table. For further information please refer to the Explanatory Notes.
Source: ATO Income Tax Data.


AGE DISTRIBUTION

The 35-44 year age group accounted for the greatest proportion (25.8%) of wage and salary earners in Inner Regional in 2000-01 compared with 24.6% of employees in this age group for all of Australia. In contrast, 22.2% of wage and salary earners were aged between 25-34 years. This was below the 25.9% in this age group for Australia where the 25-34 year age group had the largest proportion of employees. This is consistent with the movement of young people away from regional areas to the major cities in search of employment and other lifestyle opportunities.

Median wage and salary incomes were lower in Inner Regional areas than for Australia overall for all age groups. Within Inner Regional areas, median annual wage and salary income for employees was lowest in the 15-24 year age group ($14,922) and then increased with age, peaking in the 45-54 year age group ($33,413). This reflects the increased earning capacity of individuals as they reach this age range, due to factors such as promotions, increased qualifications and experience and is a general pattern evident in all remoteness areas. The over 55 year age group had the second lowest median income of all age groups, at $28,698.

WAGE AND SALARY EARNERS, By Age Group, Inner Regional, 2000-01
15-24
years
25-34
years
35-44
years
45-54
years
55 years
and over
Total
WAGE AND SALARY EARNERS
Inner regional (no.)
265,954
302,518
350,807
309,800
132,710
1,361,789
Inner regional (%)
19.5
22.2
25.8
22.7
9.7
100.0
Australia (%)
19.3
25.9
24.6
20.9
9.4
100.0
MEDIAN ANNUAL WAGE AND SALARY INCOME ($)
Inner regional
14,922
30,105
32,233
33,413
28,698
27,950
Australia
15,815
33,320
35,632
36,193
31,835
30,470
Note: Due to the randomisation process applied to small cells for confidentiality purposes, totals for each characteristic and geographic area may differ from table to table. For further information please refer to the Explanatory Notes.
Source: ATO Income Tax Data.

MEDIAN ANNUAL WAGE AND SALARY INCOME BY AGE GROUP,
Inner Regional and Australia, 2000-01

Graph: Median Annual Wage and Salary Income, by Age Group, Inner Regional and Australia, 2000-01

Source: ATO Income Tax Data.


OCCUPATION DISTRIBUTION

The distribution of wage and salary earners across the occupation groups shows some variation between Inner Regional areas and total Australia. The most common occupation groups in Inner Regional were Labourers and related workers (14.0%), Salespersons and personal service workers (12.7%) and Tradespersons (11.6%). The proportions of wage and salary earners for these groups were also greater than for the same groups at the Australia level. Professionals (11.4%), Clerks (11.1%), and Managers and administrators (8.6%) all had lower proportions of wage and salary earners than for Australia as a whole. (Note: Wage and salary earners whose occupation was not stated accounted for 18.5% of all wage and salary earners in Inner Regional areas and 20.1% for Australia).

The occupation group, Professionals, had the highest median annual wage and salary income ($43,033) for Inner Regional areas while Salespersons and personal service workers had the lowest ($20,269). All occupation groups recorded lower median wage and salary incomes in Inner Regional than for Australia. This was particularly so for Managers and administrators who had a median annual wage and salary income of $36,582 compared with $42,061 for Australia.

WAGE AND SALARY EARNERS, By Occupation(a), Inner Regional, 2000-01
Managers
and
admini-
strators
Profess-
ionals
Para-
profess-
ionals
Trades-
persons
Clerks
Sales-
persons
and personal
service
workers
Plant and
machine
operators
and
drivers
Labourers
and related workers
Not
stated
Total
WAGE AND SALARY EARNERS
Inner regional (no.)
117,731
155,727
87,790
158,450
151,651
172,936
74,615
190,898
251,945
1,361,743
Inner regional (%)
8.6
11.4
6.4
11.6
11.1
12.7
5.5
14.0
18.5
100.0
Australia (%)
9.5
13.5
5.8
10.2
12.4
12.2
4.4
11.9
20.1
100.0
MEDIAN ANNUAL WAGE AND SALARY INCOME ($)
Inner regional
36,582
43,033
37,945
30,663
25,991
20,269
36,909
25,267
18,738
27,950
Australia
42,061
45,549
39,620
32,470
28,583
22,150
36,925
25,970
22,052
30,470
(a) Australian Standard Classification of Occupations, 1st Edition.
Note: Due to the randomisation process applied to small cells for confidentiality purposes, totals for each characteristic and geographic area may differ from table to table. For further information please refer to the Explanatory Notes.
Source: ATO Income Tax Data.

MEDIAN ANNUAL WAGE AND SALARY INCOME BY OCCUPATION(a),
Inner Regional and Australia, 2000-01

Graph: Median Annual Wage and Salary Income, by Occupation, Inner Regional and Australia, 2000-01

(a) Australian Standard Classification of Occupations, 1st Edition.
Source: ATO Income Tax Data.


The distribution of male and female wage and salary earners across the occupation groups shows substantial variation. Tradespersons (19.1%) and Labourers and related workers (18.0%) accounted for the largest proportion of male wage and salary earners in Inner Regional areas in 2000-01. In contrast, the largest proportion of females occurred in the Clerks (20.5%) and Sales and personal service workers (19.3%) groups.

Clerks accounted for 3.1% of male wage and salary earners, while females were least represented in the Plant and machine operators and drivers group (0.9%).

In the occupation group Professionals, there was a higher proportion of female wage and salary earners (12.6%) than males (10.5%) with females outnumbering males by over 2,100 persons. Similarly, the number of female Para-professionals was almost 19,500 higher than the number of males in 2000-01. Proportionally, female Para-professionals accounted for 8.6% of wage and salary earners in Inner Regional areas while males accounted for 4.7%. Para-professionals includes Registered Nurses which is a predominantly female occupation group.

WAGE AND SALARY EARNERS, Occupation(a) by Sex, Inner Regional 2000-01
Managers
and
admini-
strators
Profess-
ionals
Para-
profess-
ionals
Trades-
persons
Clerks
Sales-
persons
and personal
service
workers
Plant
and
machine
opera-
tors and
drivers
Labour-
ers and related workers
Not
stated
Total
Males (no.)
80,028
76,795
34,172
139,935
22,963
52,104
68,671
132,498
127,380
734,546
Females (no.)
37,723
78,936
53,649
18,521
128,701
120,824
5,943
58,389
124,575
627,261
Males (%)
10.9
10.5
4.7
19.1
3.1
7.1
9.3
18.0
17.3
100.0
Females (%)
6.0
12.6
8.6
3.0
20.5
19.3
0.9
9.3
19.9
100.0
Australia
Males (%)
11.9
13.3
4.6
16.9
4.3
7.7
7.3
15.4
18.7
100.0
Females (%)
6.7
13.9
7.1
2.5
21.7
17.4
1.0
8.0
21.8
100.0
(a) Australian Standard Classification of Occupations, 1st Edition.
Note: Due to the randomisation process applied to small cells for confidentiality purposes, totals for each characteristic and geographic area may differ from table to table. For further information please refer to the Explanatory Notes.
Source: ATO Income Tax Data.

PROPORTION OF WAGE AND SALARY EARNERS,
by Occupation(a) and Sex, Inner Regional, 2000-01

Graph: Proportion of Wage and Salary Earners by Occupation and Sex, Inner Regional, 2000-01

(a) Australian Standard Classification of Occupations, 1st Edition.
Source: ATO Income Tax Data.


The proportional distribution of wage and salary earners across the occupation groups shows variation within each age group. The largest proportion of wage and salary earners in Inner Regional areas were Salespersons and personal service workers aged 15-24 years (3.8%), Labourers and related workers aged 35-44 years (3.7%) and Professionals aged 45-54 years (3.5%). (Note: Wage and salary earners whose occupation was not stated accounted for 18.5% of all wage and salary earners in Inner Regional areas).

WAGE AND SALARY EARNERS, Age by Occupation(a), Inner Regional, 2000-01
15-24
years
25-34
years
35-44
years
45-54
years
55 years
and over
Total
%
%
%
%
%
%
no.
Managers and administrators
0.5
1.6
2.5
2.7
1.4
8.6
117,730
Professionals
0.8
2.6
3.3
3.5
1.2
11.4
155,721
Para-professionals
0.4
1.4
2.2
1.9
0.7
6.5
87,860
Tradespersons
2.8
3.2
2.8
1.9
0.8
11.6
158,452
Clerks
1.3
2.5
3.3
2.9
1.1
11.1
151,629
Salespersons and personal service workers
3.8
3.1
2.8
2.2
0.8
12.7
172,933
Plant and machine operators and drivers
0.3
1.2
1.7
1.4
0.8
5.5
74,624
Labourers and related workers
2.6
3.2
3.7
3.0
1.5
14.0
190,897
Not stated
7.1
3.4
3.3
3.2
1.5
18.5
251,971
Total
19.5
22.2
25.8
22.7
9.7
100.0
1,361,917
Total (no.)
265,978
302,537
350,797
309,775
132,730
-
1,361,817
(a) Australian Standard Classification of Occupations, 1st Edition.
Note: Due to the randomisation process applied to small cells for confidentiality purposes, totals for each characteristic and geographic area may differ from table to table. For further information please refer to the Explanatory Notes.
Source: ATO Income Tax Data.


The following table shows the distribution of wage and salary income by occupation group as a proportion of all employees. Labourers and related workers, with an annual wage and salary income in the range $20,800 to less than $31,200, accounted for 4.0% of all wage and salary earners in Inner Regional in 2000-01, while Professionals, with wage and salary income over $52,000 accounted for 3.7%. Salespersons and personal service workers who had an annual wage and salary income of $10,400 to less than $20,800 also accounted for 3.7% of all employees.

WAGE AND SALARY EARNERS, Wage and Salary Income by Occupation(a), Inner Regional, 2000-01
$1 to
less than
$10,400
$10,400 to
less than
$20,800
$20,800 to
less than
$31,200
$31,200 to
less than
$41,600
$41,600 to
less than
$52,000
$52,000
or more
Total
PROPORTION (%)
Managers and administrators
0.5
1.1
1.7
1.9
1.4
2.0
8.6
Professionals
0.7
1.2
1.6
1.9
2.3
3.7
11.4
Para-professionals
0.3
0.8
1.2
1.4
1.3
1.4
6.4
Tradespersons
0.9
2.1
3.0
2.7
1.5
1.5
11.6
Clerks
1.4
2.6
3.3
2.5
0.9
0.5
11.1
Salespersons and personal service workers
2.8
3.7
3.5
1.6
0.6
0.5
12.7
Plant and machine operators and drivers
0.3
0.6
1.1
1.4
1.0
1.1
5.5
Labourers and related workers
2.2
3.1
4.0
2.6
1.1
1.1
14.0
Not stated
6.1
4.0
3.5
2.3
1.3
1.3
18.5
Total
15.1
19.2
22.8
18.3
11.4
13.1
100.0
(a) Australian Standard Classification of Occupations, 1st Edition.
Note: Due to the randomisation process applied to small cells for confidentiality purposes, totals for each characteristic and geographic area may differ from table to table. For further information please refer to the Explanatory Notes.
Source: ATO Income Tax Data.