SUMMARY OF FINDINGS


OVERVIEW

There were 10.9 million people working at February 2010. Of these, 82% had been with their current employer/business for one year or more and 18% had been with their current employer/business for less than 12 months.

There were 963,000 people (9% of people working at February 2010) who had changed their employer/business in the previous 12 months. The remaining 10 million people, who were working at February 2010, had not changed their employer/business in the last 12 months. This consisted of 1 million people, who were working with their employer/business at February 2010 for less than 12 months and reported that they had not changed employer/business, and 9 million people, who had worked with their employer/business at February 2010 for one year or more. This differs to 2008, where there were 1.2 million people (12% of people working at February 2008) who had changed their employer/business in the previous 12 months.


PEOPLE WHO WORKED AT SOME TIME DURING THE YEAR

Of the 12.2 million people who had worked at some time during the year ending February 2010, 54% (6.6 million) were men and 46% (5.6 million) were women. The majority (65%) were aged between 25 and 54 years.

The distribution of age groups, for people who had worked at some time during the year ending February 2010, was similar for men and women. The most prevalent age groups being 35-44 years (representing 22% of men and 22% of women), 25-34 years (22% of men and 21% of women) and 45-54 years (21% of men and 22% of women).

An estimated 2.2 million people (18%) of those who worked at some time during the year ending February 2010 had ceased a job during the year. Of these, there were 917,300 (42%) who had ceased a job involuntarily. Conversely, there were 1.3 million people (58%) who had ceased a job voluntarily. Almost one quarter (24%) of those who ceased their last job voluntarily, did so due to unsatisfactory working conditions.


PEOPLE WORKING AT FEBRUARY 2010

There were 10.9 million people aged 15 years and over who were working at February 2010.

Of those working at February 2010, there were proportionally more women who worked less than 35 hours per week (49% of women compared to 18% of men) and more men who worked 40 hours or more per week (60% of men compared to 28% of women). For example 8% of men worked 1-19 hours, compared to 23% of women. Conversely, 6% of women worked 49 hours or more, compared to 22% of men.


Duration with employer/business

There were 2 million people working at February 2010 who had been with their employer/business for less than 12 months, while 9 million people had been working with the same employer/business for one year or more.

Of those working at February 2010, the occupation groups with the highest proportion of people who had been with their employer/business for less than 12 months were Sales workers (28%) and Labourers (27%). The occupation group with the highest proportion of people who had been with their employer/business for one to less than five years were Sales workers (48%). The occupation group with the highest proportion of people who had been with their employer/business for five years or more were Managers (60%), followed by Professionals (48%). The occupation group with the lowest proportion of people who had been with their employer/business for five years or more were Sales workers (25%).

There were 2.7 million people who were working at February 2010 and had been with their current employer/business for 10 years or more. This represents 27% of men and 22% of women who were working at February 2010. Industry groups with the highest proportion of people who had been with their current employer/business for 10 years or more were:

• Agriculture, forestry and fishing (56%);
• Education and training (35%);
• Public administration and safety (33%); and
• Electricity, gas, water and waste services (29%).

Working at February 2010 and have been with current employer/business for less than 12 months

There were 2 million people working at February 2010 who had been with their current employer for less than 12 months.

Characteristics for these people include:

• 27% were aged 25-34 years;
• 53% were men;
• 16% were Professionals, 16% were Labourers and a further 14% were Technicians and trades workers;
• 14% worked in the Retail trade industry and 12% worked in the Accommodation and food services industry;
• 40% usually worked 35-40 hours and 23% usually worked 1-19 hours; and
• 46% were without a non-school qualification, while a further 17% held a Bachelor degree.

Of the 2 million people working at February 2010, 963,000 people (51% of men and 46% of women) changed employer/business in the last 12 months. Of these people:

• 28% had changed Industry Division;
• 22% had changed Major occupation group; and
• 36% had changed usual hours worked.

Of those who had been with their employer/business for less than 12 months, a higher proportion of men in each age group reported a change in employer/business than women, except for those aged 15-19 years (27% of men and 29% of women) and those aged 55-59 (43% of men, 48% of women).

For men working with their current employer/business at February 2010 for less than 12 months, the age groups where change in employer/business was most common were 35-44 years and 25-34 years (62% and 57% respectively). For women, the age groups where change in employer/business was most common were 20-24 years and 25-34 years (both 52%).


Working at February 2010 and have been with their current employer/business for one year or more

There were 9 million people who were employed at February 2010 and had been with their current employer/business for one year or more.

Characteristics for these people include:

• 24% were aged 45-54 years;
• 55% were men;
• 23% were Professionals;
• 11% worked in the Health care and social assistance industry and 10% worked in the Retail trade industry;
• 23% usually worked 35-39 hours each week;
• 39% were without a non-school qualification; and
• 19% held a Bachelor Degree and 19% held a Certificate III/IV.

Employees¹ who had a change in work

There were 7.1 million employees¹ working at February 2010, who had been with their current employer for one year or more (52% were men and 48% were women). A quarter (25%) of these people had experienced some change in work in the last 12 months, with 2% changing Major occupation group, 13% changing their usual hours worked, and 16% being promoted and/or transferred.

The age groups with the highest proportion of employees who reported a change in work, were those aged 25-34 years (29% of men and 36% of women) followed by the 20-24 year age group (27% of men and 36% of women). The occupation group with the highest proportion of men who reported a change in work was Professionals (26%) compared to Managers for women (37%). The least common occupation group reporting a change in work for both genders was Labourers (16% for men and 20% for women).

Owner managers and contributing family workers who had a change in work

There were 1.8 million owner managers and contributing family workers who were working at February 2010 and who had been working in their current business for one year or more. Of these, 12% (10% of men and 14% of women) had changed the hours they usually worked during the 12 months prior to February 2010.


END NOTES

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