IN THIS ISSUE

This month's articles present data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics publications Underemployed Workers, Australia (cat. no 6265.0) and Water Use on Australian Farms, 2005-06 (Preliminary) (cat. no. 4618.0).


The first article is about labour force underutilisation and underemployed workers in South Australia in 2006, using data obtained from the Australian Bureau of Statistics publication Underemployed Workers, Australia (cat. no. 6265.0). The second article presents information about water use for irrigation purposes by South Australian agricultural establishments from the Australian Bureau of Statistics publication Water Use on Australian Farms, 2005-06 (Preliminary) (cat. no. 4618.0).

Key points from the article Labour Force Underutilisation and the Underemployed in South Australia:

• The labour force underutilisation rate in South Australia has decreased from 12.0% to 10.8% from 2004 to 2006
• The decrease in the labour force underutilisation rate was mainly due to a reduction in the unemployment rate
• 6.1% of employed South Australian's were underemployed
• Over one third (36%) of underemployed workers in South Australia were aged 15 to 24 years, making this population over-represented in the underemployed

In the article, Labour Force Underutilisation and the Underemployed in South Australia, data have been rounded. Other Explanatory Notes are not included in SA Stats in the form found in other ABS publications. Readers are directed to the Explanatory Notes contained in related ABS publications referenced in the feature article.

Key points from the article Water Use in Agriculture - A South Australian Perspective:

• In 2005-06, South Australia used 8.6% of the total irrigation water used nationally.
• South Australia's water for agriculture is sourced evenly between 47.3% groundwater and 45.5% surface water.
• South Australia uses 34.8% of the nation's reticulated mains supply sourced for agriculture.
• The crop type with the largest area for irrigation in South Australia was grapevines, comprising 37.9% of South Australia's irrigated area.
• The crop type which used the largest percentage of irrigation water used on agricultural establishments in South Australia was pastures for grazing.

Other Explanatory Notes are not included in SA Stats in the form found in other ABS publications. Readers are directed to the Explanatory Notes contained in related ABS publications referenced in the feature article.

If you have any comments about this product please contact James Inglis on ph: (08) 8237 7405 or alternatively e-mail sa.statistics@abs.gov.au.