SUMMARY OF FINDINGS


OVERVIEW

In September 2011, there were almost 6 million people aged 15 years and over who were not in the labour force. This represented 33% of the civilian population aged 15 years and over. Since September 2008, people aged 15 years and over who were not in the labour force comprised approximately one-third of the civilian population.

Of those people not in the labour force:

• 60% were women;
• 22% wanted to work (23% of women not in the labour force and 20% of men not in the labour force); and
• 16% were aged 15-24 years, 40% were aged 25-64 years and 31% were aged 70 years and over.

The proportion of men and women who were not in the labour force varied according to age. In the 15-19 year age group, 46% of men and 42% of women were not in the labour force. In each of the remaining age groups, there was a higher proportion of women than men not in the labour force. The proportion of men not in the labour force was lowest for those aged 25-34 years (7%) and 35-44 years (8%). By comparison, the proportion of women not in the labour force was lowest for those aged 45-54 years (21%) and 20-24 years (22%).


WITH MARGINAL ATTACHMENT TO THE LABOUR FORCE

In September 2011, there were 938,400 people with marginal attachment to the labour force, representing approximately 16% of people not in the labour force. Of those with marginal attachment to the labour force:

• 587,100 (63%) were women;
• 853,400 (91%) were not actively looking for work;
• 276,400 (29%) were aged 15-24 years; and
• 186,300 (20%) had never held a job.

The largest group of men with marginal attachment to the labour force were aged 15-19 years (29%), followed by 20-24 years (12%) and 35-44 years (11%). By comparison, the largest group of women with marginal attachment to the labour force were aged 25-34 years (24%), followed by women aged 35-44 (21%) and 45-54 years (14%).


Main activity when not in the labour force


The most commonly reported main activity for men with marginal attachment to the labour force was 'Attending an educational institution' (39% of men compared to 19% of women), whereas for women it was 'Home duties' (35% of women compared to 12% of men) and 'Caring for children' (24% of women compared to 4% of men). 

There were 247,600 women not in the labour force because they were caring for children who wanted to work but were not actively looking for work. They cited preferring to look after children and cost of child care as the main reasons for not looking for work.


Time since last job

In September 2011, 80% (752,100) of people with marginal attachment to the labour force had worked before. Just over 50% had worked less than three years ago and 31% had worked less than 12 months ago.


Not actively looking for work - Intention to enter the labour force in the next 12 months

There were 853,400 people who were marginally attached to the labour force and not actively looking for work, of whom 617,600 (72%) indicated that they intended to, or might enter the labour force in the next 12 months. Of those who were marginally attached and intended to, or might enter the labour force in the next 12 months:

• 390,600 (63%) were women, 76% of whom expressed an interest in working part-time;
• 50,800 (8%) were discouraged job seekers; and
• 423,800 (69%) reported that they would prefer to work part-time.

Of women with marginal attachment to the labour force who were not actively looking for work, 296,700 (55%) preferred part-time work, while 78,600 (15%) preferred full-time work. For men, 127,000 (40%) preferred part-time work and 89,500 (28%) preferred full-time work. Of those with marginal attachment who were not actively looking for work, 23% reported that they were not intending to work.


Discouraged Job Seekers

In September 2011, there were 90,700 discouraged job seekers aged 15 years and over, compared with 102,100 in 2010. Of the 90,700 discouraged job seekers:

• 50,700 (56%) were aged 55 years and over;
• 52,400 (58%) were women;
• 79,700 (86%) had worked before;
• 13,600 had worked in the previous 12 months (16% of men and 14% of women);
• 16,400 last worked between 1 year and under 3 years ago (17% of men and 19% of women);
• 50,800 (56%) intended to or might enter the labour force in the next 12 months; of whom
  • 63% preferred to work part-time; and
  • 25,500 had looked for work in the previous 12 months (26% of men and 29% of women).
• 37,100 (40%) did not intend to enter the labour force in the next 12 months, of whom 60% stated the main reasons they were not actively looking for work was because they were 'Considered too old by employers'.

For discouraged job seekers, the most commonly reported main reason for not actively looking for work was 'Considered too old by employers' (36%). This was followed by 'Lacked necessary training, skills or experience' (16%) and 'No jobs in locality or line of work' (12%).


Main reason for not actively looking for work - Other reasons

There were 762,700 people who were not discouraged job seekers, who wanted to work, but were not actively looking for work and were available to start work within four weeks. These people account for 81% of all people with marginal attachment to the labour force.

Of the 762,700 people who were not discouraged job seekers, the most commonly reported main reason for not actively looking for work, by men, was 'Attending an educational institution' (35%), followed by 'Own long-term health condition or disability' (15%). By comparison, the most commonly reported main reason for women was 'Caring for children' (30%), followed by 'Attending an educational institution' (18%). 


WITHOUT MARGINAL ATTACHMENT TO THE LABOUR FORCE

In September 2011, there were just over 5 million people (2 million men and 3 million women) aged 15 years and over without marginal attachment to the labour force. Of those without marginal attachment:

• 84% reported that they 'Did not want to work', or 'Did not know' if they wanted to work;
• 7% 'Wanted to work but were not actively looking for work and were not available to start work within four weeks';
• 9% were 'Permanently unable to work';
• 49% were aged 65 years and over (53% of men and 46% of women);
• 16% were aged 55-64 years old; and
• 17% never had a job, of whom 59% were women.

Main activity when not in the labour force

For those without marginal attachment, the most commonly reported main activity when not in the labour force was 'Retired or voluntarily inactive' (33%) followed by 'Home duties' (21%). For men, the most common main activity when not in the labour force was 'Retired or voluntarily inactive' (41%). For women without marginal attachment, the main activity when not in the labour force was 'Home duties' (30%) followed by 'Retired or voluntarily inactive' (28%). 


Time since last job

In September 2011, there were 4.2 million people without marginal attachment to the labour force who had previously had a job. Of these:

• 55% last worked 10 or more years ago; and
• 20% last worked less than 3 years ago.