Employment at decade high: ABS
Email Print Normal font Large font August 7, 2007 - 3:14PM

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AdvertisementMore Australians have jobs than at any time in the past decade, they are working fewer hours and they are working more safely.

And according to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data, they are deserting trade unions and staging fewer strikes.

In the year to June 2006, Australia had a labour force of 10.59 million of which 10.064 million had either a full or part-time job.

While the workforce has grown, it is spending slightly less time on the job.

The ABS found the average hours worked by full-time employees is at its lowest level in 10 years with 40 hours a week having become the standard.

While most employment trends have experienced little change over the past decade, workplace relations has undergone a well-publicised overhaul.

In 1996, 31.1 per cent of Australian workers belonged to a trade union.

Last year that figure had dropped to 20.3 per cent.

The declining influence of the trade union movement is accompanied by a fall in the number of days lost to strikes.

Ten years ago, 114.1 days per 1,000 workers were spent on strike, compared with 21.6 days last year.

ABS data shows the Northern Territory to be the worst state or territory for industrial disputes, with a strike rate more than twice the national average.

The figures, however, don't necessarily show a relationship between trade union membership and industrial unrest.

Tasmania, where union membership is the highest in the country, lost only 4.2 days per 1,000 workers to strikes, less than half the rate of the next worst state.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/Business/Employment-at-decade-high-ABS/2007/08/07/1186252689243.html

So full time employment is static and aprt time is going up? That's good isn't it? More jobs.

It's better than unemployment, which is what it replaced.

oceanz wrote on Aug 14^th, 2007 at 10:02am:

freediver wrote on Aug 14^th, 2007 at 10:08am:



Totally agree FD..but they are deceitfully running around trying to have the public beleive that genuine unemployment figures are going down.That the economy is doing well because of this..its cr ap.

The reason the electorate dont feel like they are the beneficiries of the booming economy is for reasons such as this. They are STILL caught in theyre poverty trap arent they? Its a carrot stick thing..do this or else? How can that inspire anything at all let alone that affluent feeling pollies enjoy?

This is simply not true.

freediver wrote on Aug 14^th, 2007 at 10:17am:



no I dont..and I believe that is the true situation..

Otherwise how could you describe the fact that, although Libs are constantly hammering it home " you never had it so good peasants"..that noone is feeling that special glow?


Why is the mood in the electorate so hostile towards Libs at the moment.?

hostile is a pretty good word for it.  Might be a bit harsh, dismissive ??

Perhaps the mood has moderated slighty recently.

Sprintcyclist wrote on Aug 14^th, 2007 at 10:54am:


maybe..but not enough to get Hopward back into power .