AGE STRUCTURE OF INTERSTATE MIGRANTS

Median age of interstate migrants

In 2009-10, the median age of all interstate movers was 28.4 years. Median ages for arrivals were lower than the median ages for departures for most states and territories. Only New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania had older arrivals than departures. Differences between the arrival and departure median ages were slight in the case of New South Wales (28.7 and 27.9 years respectively) and South Australia (29.0 and 28.8 years respectively). Tasmania recorded the oldest arrivals median age in the nation. It was more popular with the older age group of movers, with people moving into the state having a median age of 32.0 years and people departing a median age of 27.7 years. This large differential contributes to the faster ageing of the Tasmanian population compared to other states and territories (for more information see Australian Demographic Statistics, June 2010 (cat.no.3101.0)).

All other states and territories had higher departure median ages than their arrival median ages. Most differences were small, with the largest differences in the Australian Capital Territory (27.0 years for arrivals and 28.5 years for departures) and the Northern Territory (27.9 and 26.7 years respectively). The two territories had a higher proportion of interstate arrivals aged under 35 years than the states; 71% for both the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. This has contributed to the low median age of arrival for the two territories.

All states and territories display some similar characteristics in their age and sex distributions. The most common ages for both interstate arrivals and departures were the 20-24 and 25-29 years age groups. The peak declines gradually, the older the age groups. There are, however, some differences amongst the states and territories. In 2009-10, the older age groups (45 years and older) featured more prominently in arrivals to Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania, whereas in the Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory, the younger age groups were better represented, when compared with all interstate movers. For interstate departures, Queensland and Tasmania had more people in the older age groups leaving than the proportion of national movers. Only the Australian Capital Territory had more people in the younger age groups (20-34 years) leaving compared to movers at the national level.

Figure 5.7 shows the age and sex breakdown of the Northern Territory interstate movers compared with all interstate movers within Australia in 2009-10. For interstate movers at the total national level, there must always be a counter flow. Therefore, national interstate arrivals will always be equal to national interstate departures for each age and sex.

In the Northern Territory, the peak age group for interstate arrivals in 2009-10 was 20-24 years for both males and females. Males recorded 11.1% of the total arrivals to the Northern Territory for the year and females recorded 8.3%. This is higher than the proportion at the national level for all interstate arrivals with males recording 6.9% and females 6.7%. From the 30-34 years age group upwards, the cumulative proportion of interstate arrivals into the Northern Territory was lower than the proportion at the national level.

For interstate departures from the Northern Territory in 2009-10, the peak age group was 25-29 years for males, recording 8.4% of the total departures from the Northern Territory for the year. This was nearly one percentage point higher than males aged 25-29 years (7.7%) at the national level. Whereas, for females, the peak age group in the Northern Territory was 20-24 years at 6.0%. Unlike males, this was lower than females aged 20-24 years (6.8%) at the national level for all interstate departures. The proportion of interstate departures from the Northern Territory was higher in the older age groups than at the national level. Proportions for both interstate arrivals to, and interstate departures from the Northern Territory declined rapidly to almost zero at 70-74 years of age.

Figure 5.8 shows the age and sex breakdown of Queensland interstate movers compared with all interstate movers within Australia in 2009-10. Similar to the Northern Territory, the proportion of interstate arrivals for Queensland peaked in the 20-24 years age group for both males and females. Males recorded 6.7% of the total arrivals to Queensland for the year and females recorded 6.4%. Unlike the Northern Territory, Queensland's proportions for interstate arrivals aged 20-24 years was lower than the national level for all interstate arrivals with males recording 6.9% and females 6.7%. The proportion of interstate arrivals for Queensland shows that the state is more popular with the older age groups. Both males and females aged 40 years and over had an arrival rate higher than the national rate.

The peak age group for people departing Queensland in 2009-10 was the 25-29 years age group for both males and females. Males recorded 7.5% of the total departures from Queensland for the year and females recorded 6.8%, both marginally lower than the proportion recorded at the national level of 7.7% and 6.8% respectively. Even though Queensland received a higher proportion of arrivals at the older age groups, more people departed Queensland at the older age groups (45 years onwards) than at the national level.

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