6333.0 - Characteristics of Employment, Australia, August 2015 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 31/08/2016   
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KEY FINDINGS

The Characteristics of Employment Survey presents information on all employed persons according to their status of employment. The framework below classifies jobholders to a status of employment on the basis of their main job that is, the job in which they usually worked the most hours. The status of employment category groups are:

  • Employees;
  • Owner managers of incorporated enterprises (OMIEs); and
  • Owner managers of unincorporated enterprises (OMUEs).

Employees are then further classified according to whether they had paid leave entitlements, that is whether they had paid sick and/or paid holiday leave, while OMIEs and OMUEs are further classified according to whether they had employees.
IMAGE: Conceptual Framework Status of Employment


Information is also presented on independent contractors who may be in the Employees, OMIEs or OMUEs groups. They are identified through a series of questions about their work and remuneration arrangements.

OVERVIEW

Employed Persons
  • In August 2015, there were an estimated 11.6 million employed persons aged 15 years and over, of which 54% were males. (Datacube 3)
  • An estimated 7.9 million (68%) employed persons worked full-time in their main job. (Datacube 4)
  • Almost half (46%) of all employed persons usually worked 35–44 hours per week. Males comprised 60% of these persons.(Datacube 5)

Earnings
  • In August 2015, the mean weekly earnings of employees and OMIEs in all jobs was $1,202 compared with $1,189 in 2014. (Datacube 2)
  • For males, the mean weekly earnings in all jobs was $1,420 and for females it was $965.
  • The median weekly earnings in all jobs in 2015 was $1,000 ($1,196 for males and $850 for females). (Datacube 9)

Independent Contractors
  • There were approximately 1 million independent contractors in their main job in August 2015. (Datacube 14)
  • Independent contractors made up 9% of all employed persons, and almost three quarters (73%) of all independent contractors were males.
  • More than half (55%) of independent contractors were aged 45 years and over.