Media release –
Northern Territory
New 2011 Census data reveals more about the Northern Territory30 October 2012 | NT/19New data from the 2011 Census of Population and Housing announced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today has added to the snapshot of the Northern Territory revealed by the release of initial Census results in June. ABS the Northern Territory Regional Director Stephen Collett said the latest release of 2011 Census data marked an important time for the ABS, Australia, and the Northern Territory. “2011 Census data released earlier this year has already shed some light on who we are as a nation and a region, and where we live,” Mr Collett said. “The latest tranche of Census data now paints a picture of what we do and how we live, helping to further shape the Northern Territory over the next five years, and providing a brighter future for our region. “In particular, Census data provides a valuable insight into the growth and development of the Northern Territory, our people and our workforce.” Today’s second Census release provides data on the following topics at all geographic levels, from Australia and states and territories, to capital cities and suburbs:
Mr Collett encouraged everyone to make use of Australia’s richest statistical resource, which provides a comprehensive snapshot of the Northern Territory and all areas within it. “Census data is available free online and can be used for a wide range of purposes. Our range of new, easy-to-use tools, including QuickStats, makes searching Census data quick and easy,” he said. Data from the 2011 Census of Population and Housing is now available on the ABS website. Visit www.abs.gov.au/census. Key second release Census data for the Northern Territory is detailed below. 2011 Census of Population and Housing second release data – Northern TerritoryLabour force and hours workedThe latest figures show the Northern Territory’s total labour force consisted of 103,965 people aged 15 years and over at the time of the last Census on 9 August 2011, an increase of 12,782 people from 91,183 in 2006.More than two thirds (66.9 per cent) of the Northern Territory’s labour force reported being employed full-time, with 58.7 per cent of this workforce male. In comparison, of the 20 per cent of the Northern Territory’s labour force who reported being employed part-time, 62.9 per cent were female. Even though the proportion of people aged over 15 years who reported not being in the labour force stayed the same between 2006 and 2011, at 25.6 per cent, there was an increase of 4,539 people. This includes retirees, students, and stay at home parents. In 2011, 3.4 per cent of the Northern Territory’s population reported being unemployed but looking for work, an increase from 2.8 per cent in 2006. There has also been a decline in the proportion of people who reported working 40 hours or more the week before Census night, from 51.6 per cent in 2006, to 50.8 per cent in 2011, a decrease of 0.8 of a percentage point. IndustryThe Public Administration and Safety and Health Care and Social Assistance industries continue to be the top two industries in the Northern Territory, with 20.9 per cent working in the Public Administration and Safety industry and 10 per cent in the Health Care and Social Assistance industry.There has been an increase of people working in the Construction industry from 6,096 people in 2006 to 8,055 people in 2011. The Retail industry has experienced a one percentage point decline from 9.1 per cent in 2006 to 8.1 per cent in 2011. OccupationIn terms of occupation, the Northern Territory population was still working in the same top five occupations as in 2006: Professionals (19.9 per cent); Technicians and Trades Workers (15.1 per cent); Clerical and Administrative Workers (14.7 per cent); Community and Personal Service Workers (13.4 per cent); and Managers (12 per cent).While all top five occupations reported an increase, Professionals showed the largest proportionate increase since 2006, from 18.2 per cent to 19.9 per cent, reflecting a faster rate of growth compared to other occupations. The proportion of females who reported working as Community and Personal Service Workers declined in 2011 to 53.1 per cent from 55.7 per cent in 2006. However, males reported an increase in working in this industry from 44.3 per cent in 2006 to 46.9 per cent in 2011. Method of travel to workThe latest Census data further revealed that nearly two thirds of people in the Northern Territory still prefer to travel to work by car than any other means, with 64.2 per cent of the population reporting this as their primary method of travel to work (either as the driver or passenger).While the household car is still the preferred method of travel to work for most people, there has been a slight increase in the number of people who walk to work, from 10,350 persons in 2006 to 10,862 in 2011. However, the proportion of people who walked to work has declined from 11.9 per cent in 2006 to 11 per cent in 2011, reflecting a slower rate of growth compared to other forms of travel. Highest level of educationTurning to education, there has been an increase in the proportion of people in the Northern Territory undertaking additional studies, with increases in the number of people who reported completing Postgraduate and Bachelor Degrees, Graduate Diplomas and Graduate Certificates, Advanced Diplomas and Diplomas, and Certificates III/IV.The number of people who have successfully completed Postgraduate Degrees has risen from 2,872 in 2006 to 4,309 in 2011 – an increase of 50 per cent. There has also been a 33 per cent increase in the number of people who reported completing a Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate as their highest level of education, an increase from 2,195 in 2006 to 2,920 in 2011. Fields of studyEngineering and Related Technologies (15.1 per cent) and Management and Commerce (13.3 per cent) were the two most common reported fields of study, as they were in 2006. However, there has been a decline in the proportion of people who reported Engineering and Related Technologies (0.7 percentage point), and an increase in those who reported Management and Commerce studies (1.5 percentage points).There have been increases in the proportions of people studying both Society and Culture (up from 8.5 per cent in 2006 to 9.5 per cent in 2011) and Health (up from 7.7 per cent to 8.4 per cent). State and territory migrationInternal migration is the movement of people from one place of residence to another within Australia. These figures are traditionally used for infrastructure and community planning.The latest figures from the 2011 Census have shown a continued decline in the proportion of people in the Northern Territory who moved within the state in the five years prior to Census night. This is consistent with the national trend. The proportion of people who have moved to the Northern Territory in the five years prior to Census night from interstate has declined from 39 per cent in 2006 to 37.6 per cent in 2011, and the proportion of people moving to the Northern Territory from overseas has jumped markedly from seven per cent in 2006 to 14 per cent in 2011. Of the Northern Territory residents who moved in the year prior to the 2011 Census, most moved within the Territory (57.9 per cent), while 8.4 per cent of people had moved to the Territory from overseas in the year prior to 2011. The Census collects information on where people lived, one year ago and five years ago prior to Census night. This information only reflects movements which coincide with these particular points in time, even though there may have been multiple movements during this period. |