Hit The Road, Jack
State Supplementary Survey
(cat. no. 6209.5)

Would you cross a continent or come half way around the world just to get a job?

Well, in the two years to October 2008 almost 69,000 people did just that, arriving in WA looking for work.

The 2008 Labour Mobility and Intentions Survey shows how labour mobility occurred over the two years to October 2008 and what peoples’ work intentions were at that time.

In October last year, there were 1,477,800 usual residents of private dwellings in WA aged 15 and over. Of these, 1,155,000 were employed (either working for an employer or self employed).

On The Move
In the three years to October, 148,900 people (aged 15 and over) moved to WA, with almost two thirds arriving from overseas and the remainder from interstate.

Almost half specifically came for work opportunities and three quarters were employed in 2008.

More than half of WA’s employed population had a post school qualification. Of this group, two thirds were working in the field of their highest qualification.

About 375,700 employees had been in their current job for less than two years and, of these, 7 of every 10 had been in a previous job within the last two years. People over 24 were more likely to have changed jobs than younger people.

The proportion changing occupation was highest among people who were currently Managers (66%) and lowest among people who were currently Professionals and Technicians and trades workers (33% and 39% respectively).

More than 6 in every 10 employees who changed job in the two years prior to the survey had moved to a job in a different industry. Change of industry was highest among people currently employed as Clerical and administrative workers, Machinery operators and drivers and Technicians and trades workers.

The most noticeable movements between industries occurred among people who were previously employed in the Construction, Information media and telecommunications and Administrative and support services industries.

Of people previously employed in the Construction industry 17% had moved to the Mining industry. Among those previously in the Information media and telecommunications and Administrative and support industries, 25% and 13% respectively had also moved to the Mining industry.

Why Change?
The most common reasons given by employees for changing their job were ‘to obtain a better job/just wanted a change’; ‘unsatisfactory work arrangements’ and ‘family reasons’.

About 10% of those working indicated an intention to leave their current job within the next 12 months. Almost 20% of 15–24 year olds and 14% of 25–34 year olds intended to change jobs. The proportion of older workers intending to change was much lower.

Over half of those intending to move were planning to move to a job within the same industry. Industry change intentions were more common among younger job changers.

People working in the field of their highest educational qualification represented almost half of those intending to move to a job in the same industry as their current job. Over half of those working without a post school qualification intended moving to a job in a different industry.

For further information about State Supplementary Surveys, please contact Trevor Draper on (08) 9360 5394.