March 27, 2008 Embargoed: 11.30 am (AEDT) 25/2008
Indigenous unemployment falls: ABS
There have been improvements across many areas for Indigenous people
according to an analysis of 2006 Census data released today by the
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). However, there is much catching up
still to occur, when compared with the non-Indigenous population.
Between 2001 and 2006, the Indigenous unemployment rate has fallen from 20%
to 16%.
Combined with this, there have been increases in labour force participation
and qualifications. More Indigenous people aged 15 years and over were in
the labour force, with the participation rate increasing from 52% in 2001
to 55% in 2006.
The proportion of Indigenous people aged 15 years and over achieving
qualifications is up from 20% in 2001 to 25% in 2006.
Despite these gains, unemployment for Indigenous Australians is more than
three times the non-Indigenous unemployment rate (5%). Employment and
education rates for non-Indigenous people are still substantially higher.
The new report includes national level analyses of the population structure
and distribution, mobility, household composition, language, education,
work, income and housing characteristics of Indigenous Australians.
Some of the findings include:
The estimated resident Indigenous population was 517,174, or 2.5% of the
total population (up from 2.4% in 2001) at 30 June 2006;
The median age for Indigenous people was 21, compared with 37 for
non-Indigenous people;
Between 2001 and 2006, an overall pattern of migration away from more
remote areas was observed for Indigenous Australians;
More Indigenous households were buying their own home in 2006 (24%
compared with 20% in 2001), and less were renting (63% compared with 66%
in 2001);
More than half (56%) of Indigenous Australians living in very remote
areas spoke an Indigenous language at home, compared with 1% in major
cities.
Further details are in Population Characteristics, Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Australians,2006 (cat. no. 4713.0) available for free
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FURTHER INFORMATION: Media requests and interviews
Carolyn Verey (02) 6252 7633; 0407 946
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Richard Lynch (02) 6252 6139; 0407 107 931
Statistical clarification
Julie Nankervis (08) 8943 2146
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