6202.0 - Labour Force, Australia, Jul 2004  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 12/08/2004   
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JULY KEY FIGURES

Jun 2004
Jul 2004
Jun 04 to Jul 04
Jul 03 to Jul 04

Trend
Employed persons ('000)
9,666.3
9,672.2
5.8
2.4
%
Unemployed persons ('000)
571.9
571.7
-0.2
-7.0
%
Unemployment rate (%)
5.6
5.6
0.0
pts
-0.5
pts
Participation rate (%)
63.6
63.6
0.0
pts
0.2
pts
Seasonally Adjusted
Employed persons ('000)
9,645.4
9,666.9
21.6
2.5
%
Unemployed persons ('000)
572.0
580.8
8.8
-6.6
%
Unemployment rate (%)
5.6
5.7
0.1
pts
-0.5
pts
Participation rate (%)
63.5
63.6
0.1
pts
0.2
pts

Employed Persons

Graph: Employed Persons

Unemployment rate

Graph: Unemployment rate



JULY KEY POINTS


TREND ESTIMATES (MONTHLY CHANGE)

  • EMPLOYMENT increased to 9,672,200.
  • UNEMPLOYMENT decreased to 571,700
  • UNEMPLOYMENT RATE remained at 5.6%.
  • PARTICIPATION RATE remained at 63.6%.


SEASONALLY ADJUSTED ESTIMATES (MONTHLY CHANGE)

EMPLOYMENT
  • increased by 21,600 to 9,666,900. Full-time employment remained at 6,933,900 while part-time employment increased by 21,600 to 2,733,000.

UNEMPLOYMENT
  • increased by 8,800 to 580,800. The number of persons looking for full-time work increased by 12,800 to 428,200 and the number of persons looking for part-time work decreased by 4,000 to 152,600.

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
  • increased by 0.1 percentage point to 5.7%. The male unemployment rate decreased by 0.1 percentage point to 5.5% and the female unemployment rate increased by 0.3 percentage points to 5.9%.

PARTICIPATION RATE
  • increased by 0.1 percentage point to 63.6%.


NOTES

CAI IMPLEMENTATION

In October 2003, the ABS began the progressive implementation of computer assisted interviewing (CAI) into the LFS. Under CAI, interviewers record responses directly onto an electronic questionnaire in a laptop computer.

For the period October 2003 to January 2004 the CAI method was used on a random 10% sub-sample of survey interviews. The remaining 90% of interviews each month were conducted using the traditional 'pen and paper' method.

The sub-sample of survey interviews conducted using the CAI method was increased to 40% in February 2004 in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory, and remained at 40% in March 2004. In the remaining states and the Northern Territory, the proportion of interviews using the CAI method stayed at 10% for February and March 2004. The CAI method was used for 40% of interviews for all states and territories in April and May 2004. This was increased to 70% in June 2004, and remained at that level in July 2004. From August 2004 all LFS interviews will be conducted using the CAI method.

Implementation of the CAI interviewing method has not affected published estimates in any meaningful way. Nonetheless, the ABS is continuing to monitor the situation carefully by conducting a range of analyses on each month's data. These analyses have confirmed that, to date, the change in interview method has not materially affected the aggregate estimates for any month. Users will continue to be informed of the progress of CAI implementation, including the results of further analyses, through updates in this publication.



INQUIRIES

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Craig Blair on Canberra (02) 6252 6525.



PRINCIPAL LABOUR FORCE SERIES TREND ESTIMATES


EMPLOYED PERSONS

The trend estimate of employed persons generally rose from a low of 7,637,500 in December 1992 to 9,054,600 in September 2000. The trend estimate then fell slightly to 9,033,600 in January 2001, before rising to 9,465,300 in March 2003. The trend estimate then fell for three months, before rising to stand at 9,672,200 in July 2004.

Graph: Employed Persons (Trend)



UNEMPLOYED PERSONS

The trend estimate of unemployed persons fell rapidly from 920,800 in September 1993 to 728,200 in July 1995. The trend estimate then rose to 771,500 in February 1997, before falling to 584,000 in September 2000. After rising to 685,700 in October 2001, the trend estimate has generally fallen to stand at 571,700 in July 2004.

Graph: Unemployed Persons (Trend)



UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

The trend unemployment rate fell rapidly from 10.7% in August 1993 to 8.1% in July 1995. The trend estimate then rose slowly, reaching 8.4% in February 1997, before falling to 6.1% in September 2000. After rising to 7.0% in October 2001, the trend estimate has generally fallen to stand at 5.6% in July 2004.

Graph: Unemployment Rate (Trend)



EMPLOYED PERSONS TREND ESTIMATES


MALES EMPLOYED FULL TIME


TOTAL

From a low of 3,939,500 in November 1992, the trend estimate for males employed full time rose to 4,216,000 in April 1996. After remaining stable for a year, the trend then rose to 4,400,900 in August 2000. The trend then fell to 4,337,000 in June 2001, before generally rising to stand at 4,578,500 in July 2004.

Graph: Males employed full time (trend)



MALES AGED 15-19

Although fluctuating, the trend estimate of males aged 15 to 19 employed full time generally decreased through the decade from 159,900 in March 1995 to 141,700 in June 2003. The trend then rose to 156,200 in January 2004 before falling to stand at 147,000 in July 2004.

Graph: Males employed full time 15-19 year olds (trend)



MALES AGED 20 AND OVER

Apart from a flat period between mid 1995 and mid 1997, the trend estimate of males aged 20 and over employed full time rose steadily, from 3,787,600 in December 1992 to 4,256,300 in August 2000. The trend then fell to 4,193,000 in July 2001, before generally rising to stand at 4,431,500 in July 2004.

Graph: Males employed full time 20+ year olds (trend)



FEMALES EMPLOYED FULL TIME


TOTAL

The trend estimate of females employed full time generally rose from 1,865,500 in August 1992 to 2,266,300 in March 2001. The trend then decreased to 2,216,200 in February 2002, before generally rising to stand at 2,357,700 in July 2004.

Graph: Females employed full time (trend)



FEMALES AGED 15-19

The trend estimate of females aged 15 to 19 employed full time fell from 95,000 in October 1994 to 74,000 in August 1998. The trend then rose to 89,100 in February 2001, before falling to 76,400 in April 2002. Although fluctuating over the last twelve months, the trend has increased since April 2002 to stand at 86,500 in July 2004.

Graph: Females employed full time 15-19 year olds (trend)



FEMALES AGED 20 AND OVER

The trend estimate of females aged 20 and over employed full time, while remaining steady for a two year period in the mid 1990s, generally increased from 1,770,900 in August 1992 to 2,177,600 in March 2001. The trend then fell to 2,136,300 in December 2001, before generally increasing to stand at 2,271,200 in July 2004.

Graph: Females employed full time 20+ year olds (trend)