6261.0.55.001 - Characteristics of Wage and Salary Earners in Regions of Australia, 2000-01  
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INTRODUCTION

Outer Regional Australia is defined in the remoteness structure as those areas where geographic distance imposes a moderate restriction upon accessibility to the widest range of goods, services and opportunities for social interaction. Parts of Australia classified to Outer Regional include Broken Hill, Griffith, Gunnedah (New South Wales), Horsham, Swan Hill, Traralgon (Victoria), Roma, Cairns (Queensland), Port Augusta, Mount Gambier (South Australia), Albany (Western Australia), Burnie (Tasmania), and Darwin (Northern Territory). The Australian Capital Territory has no area classified as more remote than Inner 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 Outer Regional Australia compared with Australia as a whole and should be read in conjunction with the EXPLANATORY NOTES and GLOSSARY Links 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 - OUTER REGIONAL AUSTRALIA

For the financial year 2000-01, there were approximately 688,300 wage and salary earners located in Outer Regional Australia. This represents an increase of 0.5% since 1995-96 and a 0.7% decrease over the number of wage and salary earners in 1999-2000. In 2000-01, 9.2% of all wage and salary earners in Australia were located in Outer Regional areas. This compares with 10.1% of the estimated resident population aged between 15 and 64 years, the primary years when people are in the labour force.

Total wage and salary income paid to Australia's wage and salary earners in Outer Regional was $20.7 billion in 2000-01. This was $0.7 billion (3.4%) more than in 1999-2000 and $3.3 billion (19.2%) more than reported in 1995-96. The average annual rate of increase over the last five years has been 3.6% compared with an Australian average annual increase of 4.9%.

For the financial year 2000-01, the median individual annual wage and salary income for wage and salary earners in Outer Regional was $27,451. This was an increase of 3.6% over the previous year ($26,494) and a 16.1% increase on the median in 1995-96 ($23,651). The average annual rate of increase over the last five years has been 3.0%. This compares with the Australian average annual increase of 3.2% over the same period.

In 2000-01, the median annual wage and salary income in Outer Regional was $3,019 (9.9%) lower than the median for Australia. This compares with a difference of $2,658 (10.1%) in 1995-96. The absolute difference between the median annual wage and salary earner income for Outer Regional and Australia has been gradually widening over the period 1996-97 to 2000-01.


WAGE AND SALARY EARNERS, Outer 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.)
685,063
686,672
695,281
695,557
693,249
688,313
-0.7
0.1
Wage and salary income ($m)
17,399
18,180
19,067
19,710
20,067
20,747
3.4
3.6
Median annual wage and salary income ($)
23,651
24,504
25,194
26,100
26,494
27,451
3.6
3.0
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 projects 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,
Outer Regional and Australia, 1995-96 to 2000-01

Graph: Median Annual Wage and Salary Income, Outer Regional and Australia, 1995-96 to 2000-01
Source: ATO Income Tax Data.


SEX DISTRIBUTION

In 2000-01, there were around 380,800 (55.3%) male and 307,500 (44.7%) female wage and salary earners in Outer Regional areas. These proportions were similar to those for total Australia (54.8% male and 45.2% female). The median annual wage and salary income for males was $32,728 while for females it was $22,107, compared with national median wage and salary incomes of $36,403 for males and $25,091 for females.

WAGE AND SALARY EARNERS, By Sex, Outer Regional, 2000-01
Males
Females
Persons
Wage and salary earners (no.)
380,825
307,481
688,306
Median annual wage and salary income ($)
32,728
22,107
27,451
Australian median annual wage and salary income ($)
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 (25.5%) of wage and salary earners in Outer Regional in 2000-01 compared with 24.6% for all of Australia. The 25-34 year age group in Outer Regional contained 24.1% of wage and salary earners.

Within Outer Regional, the median wage and salary income was lowest in the 15-24 year age group ($15,901). As is evident in all remoteness areas, median wage and salary income increased with age, peaking in the 45-54 year age group ($32,043) reflecting the increased earning capacity of individuals as they reach this age range, due to factors such as promotions, increased qualifications and experience.

Median annual wage and salary income in 2000-01 was lower in Outer Regional than the Australian figure for all age groups, except for wage and salary earners aged 15-24 years.

The over 55 year age group had the second lowest median of the five age groups with $27,707. This can generally be attributed to factors such as people with higher incomes retiring from the workforce as self-funded retirees, while some persons in this age group may continue in the workforce on a part-time basis.

WAGE AND SALARY EARNERS, By Age Group, Outer Regional, 2000-01
15-24
years
25-34
years
35-44
years
45-54
years
55 years
and over
Total
WAGE AND SALARY EARNERS
Outer regional (no.)
137,052
165,764
175,643
145,449
64,464
688,372
Outer regional (%)
19.9
24.1
25.5
21.1
9.4
100.0
Australia (%)
19.3
25.9
24.6
20.9
9.4
100.0
MEDIAN WAGE AND SALARY INCOME ($)
Outer regional
15,901
29,852
31,239
32,043
27,707
27,450
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,
Outer Regional and Australia, 2000-01

Graph: Median Annual Wage and Salary Income by Age Group, Outer 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 Outer Regional areas and Australia. The occupation groups Labourers and related workers (18.0%), Salespersons and personal service workers (12.4%) and Tradespersons (11.7%) had the largest proportions of wage and salary earners in Outer Regional. These proportions were also greater than for the same groups at the Australia level. Clerks (10.6%), Professionals (10.2%) and Managers and administrators (8.6%) all had lower proportions of wage and salary earners than at the Australia level. (Note: Wage and salary earners whose occupation was not stated accounted for 16.4% of all wage and salary earners in Outer Regional areas and 20.1% for Australia overall).

The occupation group Professionals had the highest median annual wage and salary income ($42,048) in Outer Regional areas. Salespersons and personal service workers had the lowest median income with $19,961. All occupation groups recorded lower median wage and salary incomes in Outer Regional than at the Australia level. This was particularly so for Managers and administrators ($36,582) where the difference exceeded $7,700 in 2000-01.

WAGE AND SALARY EARNERS, By Occupation(a), Outer 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
Outer regional (no.)
59,366
70,213
42,319
80,194
73,255
85,413
40,372
123,996
113,181
688,309
Outer regional (%)
8.6
10.2
6.1
11.7
10.6
12.4
5.9
18.0
16.4
100.0
Australia (%)
9.5
13.5
5.8
10.2
12.4
12.2
4.4
11.9
20.1
100.0
MEDIAN WAGE AND SALARY INCOME ($)
Outer regional
34,353
42,048
38,211
30,589
25,718
19,961
36,751
24,379
19,007
27,449
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),
Outer Regional and Australia, 2000-01

Graph: Median Annual Wage and Salary Income by Occupation, Outer 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. Labourers and related workers (23.3%) and Tradespersons (18.5%) accounted for the largest proportion of male wage and salary earners in Outer Regional areas in 2000-01. These traditionally male dominated occupation groups are heavily connected with industries such as agriculture and mining which are more common in these regions of Australia. In contrast, the largest proportion of females occurred in the Clerks (20.5%) and Sales and personal service workers (20.1%) groups.

Clerks only accounted for 2.6% of male wage and salary earners, while females were least represented in the Plant and machine operators and drivers group (0.8%).

In the occupation group Professionals, females outnumbered males by over 5,600 persons. Female Professionals represent 12.3% of wage and salary earners in Outer Regional with males accounting for 8.5%, compared with 13.9% nationally for females and 13.3% for males. In contrast the number of male Managers and administrators exceeded the number of females by almost 21,000 persons. Proportionally, Managers and administrators accounted for 10.5% of male wage and salary earners in Outer Regional areas while this group accounted for 6.2% of females.

Apart from a slight increase in Very Remote areas there is an overall decline in the proportion of male Professionals as remoteness increases. This trend is quite different for females with the proportion of Professionals increasing with remoteness from Outer Regional to Very Remote areas.


WAGE AND SALARY EARNERS, Occupation(a) by Sex, Outer 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
Males (no.)
40,149
32,295
16,963
70,533
10,060
23,702
38,092
88,537
60,451
380,782
Females (no.)
19,215
37,899
25,411
9,618
63,081
61,683
2,339
35,498
52,699
307,443
Males (%)
10.5
8.5
4.5
18.5
2.6
6.2
10.0
23.3
15.9
100.0
Females (%)
6.2
12.3
8.3
3.1
20.5
20.1
0.8
11.5
17.1
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 Individual Income Tax Data.


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

Graph: Proportion of Wage and Salary Earners, by Occupation and Sex, Outer 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 proportions of wage and salary earners in Outer Regional areas were in the categories Labourers and related workers aged 35-44 years (4.7%) and 25-34 years (4.3%). Sales and personal service workers aged 15-24 years accounted for 3.7% of wage and salary earners in Outer Regional. (Note: Wage and salary earners whose occupation was not stated accounted for 16.4% of all wage and salary earners in Outer Regional areas).

WAGE AND SALARY EARNERS, Age by Occupation(a), Outer 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
1.7
2.5
2.5
1.3
8.6
59,344
Professionals
0.9
2.8
2.8
2.7
1.0
10.2
70,206
Para-professionals
0.4
1.5
2.0
1.7
0.6
6.2
42,351
Tradespersons
2.9
3.3
2.8
1.9
0.8
11.6
80,160
Clerks
1.4
2.6
3.1
2.5
0.9
10.6
73,155
Salespersons and personal service workers
3.7
3.2
2.8
2.0
0.7
12.4
85,408
Plant and machine operators and drivers
0.4
1.4
1.8
1.5
0.8
5.9
40,473
Labourers and related workers
3.5
4.3
4.7
3.7
1.8
18.0
124,034
Not stated
6.3
3.4
2.9
2.6
1.3
16.4
113,145
Total
19.9
24.1
25.5
21.1
9.4
100.0
688,276
Total (no.)
137,089
165,278
175,647
145,379
64,443
-
688,276
(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. 5.0% of all wage and salary earners in Outer Regional in 2000-01 were Labourers and related workers with an annual wage and salary income in the range $20,800 to less than $31,200. A further 4.2% of all employees were also Labourers and related workers with wages in the range $10,400 to less than $20,800. Professionals earning over $52,000 per annum made up 3.1% of all wage and salary earners in Outer Regional.

WAGE AND SALARY EARNERS, Wage and Salary Income by Occupation(a), Outer 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
0.6
1.2
1.9
1.9
1.3
1.7
8.6
Professionals
0.6
1.1
1.4
1.8
2.1
3.1
10.2
Para-professionals
0.3
0.7
1.1
1.3
1.3
1.3
6.1
Tradespersons
0.9
2.1
3.0
2.6
1.5
1.6
11.7
Clerks
1.4
2.5
3.1
2.4
0.9
0.4
10.6
Salespersons and personal service workers
2.8
3.7
3.5
1.5
0.5
0.4
12.4
Plant and machine operators and drivers
0.3
0.7
1.1
1.5
1.0
1.2
5.9
Labourers and related workers
3.1
4.2
5.0
3.1
1.2
1.4
18.0
Not stated
5.3
3.5
3.0
2.2
1.3
1.1
16.4
Total
15.3
19.8
23.3
18.4
11.1
12.2
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.