Unemployment in Australia 1990 to 2009

Unemployment in Australia 1990 to 2009.

Unemployment rates and percentages can make very interesting reading, especially when looking at the Trend rates, or the Seasonally adjusted rates, or even the original figures themselves. It can be confusing, for some, especially if you compare one series in one period to another series in another period, and you end up comparing apples and oranges.

So, what are the real figures ?

I looked at some original numbers from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and calculated some percentages, based on those original numbers. To avoid seasonal fluctuations, I looked only at the September figures in each year.

Looking at the following, it looks easy to see the trend for yourselves.

Percentage of civilian population over 15 looking for Full time work

  • 3.65% Sep-1990
  • 5.16% Sep-1991
  • 5.49% Sep-1992
  • 5.55% Sep-1993
  • 4.60% Sep-1994
  • 4.17% Sep-1995
  • 4.29% Sep-1996
  • 4.11% Sep-1997
  • 3.92% Sep-1998
  • 3.36% Sep-1999
  • 2.88% Sep-2000
  • 3.28% Sep-2001
  • 2.91% Sep-2002
  • 2.75% Sep-2003
  • 2.42% Sep-2004
  • 2.29% Sep-2005
  • 2.12% Sep-2006
  • 1.81% Sep-2007
  • 1.87% Sep-2008
  • 2.74% Sep-2009

The average over that 20 year period has been 3.47%, so, as at September 2009, considerably LOWER (21.04%) than the average have been looking for full time work.


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Percentage of civilian population over 15 employed full time

  • 46.77% Sep-1990
  • 44.22% Sep-1991
  • 42.74% Sep-1992
  • 42.68% Sep-1993
  • 43.80% Sep-1994
  • 44.36% Sep-1995
  • 43.74% Sep-1996
  • 43.26% Sep-1997
  • 43.65% Sep-1998
  • 43.50% Sep-1999
  • 44.11% Sep-2000
  • 43.15% Sep-2001
  • 43.07% Sep-2002
  • 43.25% Sep-2003
  • 43.62% Sep-2004
  • 44.32% Sep-2005
  • 45.00% Sep-2006
  • 45.21% Sep-2007
  • 45.41% Sep-2008
  • 43.70% Sep-2009

The average over that 20 year period has been 43.98%, so as at September 2009, slightly FEWER (0.64%) than the average have been employed full time.

    Percentage of civilian population over 15 employed part time

    • 12.90% Sep-1990
    • 13.31% Sep-1991
    • 13.90% Sep-1992
    • 13.86% Sep-1993
    • 14.26% Sep-1994
    • 14.64% Sep-1995
    • 14.93% Sep-1996
    • 15.25% Sep-1997
    • 15.51% Sep-1998
    • 15.74% Sep-1999
    • 16.07% Sep-2000
    • 16.33% Sep-2001
    • 16.83% Sep-2002
    • 16.96% Sep-2003
    • 16.98% Sep-2004
    • 17.44% Sep-2005
    • 17.58% Sep-2006
    • 17.77% Sep-2007
    • 17.59% Sep-2008
    • 18.18% Sep-2009

    The average over that 20 year period has been 15.8%, so, as at September 2009, considerably MORE (15.05%) than the average have been working Part time.

    Percentage of civilian population over 15 in employment, Full or Part time

    • 59.67% Sep-1990
    • 57.53% Sep-1991
    • 56.64% Sep-1992
    • 56.55% Sep-1993
    • 58.05% Sep-1994
    • 59.00% Sep-1995
    • 58.67% Sep-1996
    • 58.51% Sep-1997
    • 59.17% Sep-1998
    • 59.24% Sep-1999
    • 60.18% Sep-2000
    • 59.47% Sep-2001
    • 59.90% Sep-2002
    • 60.21% Sep-2003
    • 60.59% Sep-2004
    • 61.76% Sep-2005
    • 62.58% Sep-2006
    • 62.98% Sep-2007
    • 62.99% Sep-2008
    • 61.88% Sep-2009

    The average over that 20 year period has been 59.78%, so, as at September 2009, slightly MORE (3.51%) than the average have been in Employment of one kind or another.

    The above figures were all calculated from the actual numbers of employed and unemployed from the September 2009 edition of the ABS 6202.0 Labour Force, Australia

    Calculations:

    • The average 20 year figure is taken as the sum of all 20 numbers divided by 20.
    • The change from average is taken as the difference between September 2009 and the 20 year average, as a percentage of that 20 year average.
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