Having a job that pays adequately and provides opportunities for self development is important to most people.
Employment is important to living standards, self-esteem and overall wellbeing. It is also important to the family. Children who have a parent who is employed are more likely to attend school and stay on past the compulsory school age. They are also more likely to enter into post secondary education and gain employment.
Unemployment can have a major impact on a number of areas covered in this Report, including poor health and mortality, domestic violence, homelessness and substance misuse.
The labour force participation rate will, to some extent, reflect the limited employment opportunities available to Indigenous people in remote areas, along with the employment opportunities provided by CDEP. Information in this section does not reflect recent changes made to the CDEP program.
In 2004-05, after adjusting for age differences:
- the labour force participation rate for Indigenous people (58.5 per cent) was about three quarters of that for non-Indigenous people (78.1 per cent) (figure 3.5.3)
- the unemployment rate for Indigenous people (13 per cent) was about 3 times the rate for non-Indigenous people (4 per cent) (figure 3.5.6).
From 1994 to 2004-05:
- the participation rate for Indigenous women increased from 42 per cent to 53 per cent. The rate for Indigenous men was constant (figure 3.5.5)
- the Indigenous unemployment rate fell from 30 per cent to 13 per cent. The unemployment rate fell for both women and men (figure 3.5.9)
- CDEP participation rates remained stable (figure 3.5.2). CDEP participation significantly reduces recorded Indigenous unemployment rates and increases recorded labour force participation rates, particularly in remote areas.
Report Chapter 3: Headline Indicators
(PDF document)
Attachment 3A
(Excel document)
See next indicator: Household and individual income.