Bega Valley Shire

The labour force

The labour force section answers the question:

  • What are the characteristics of the local labour force?

The 'local labour force' differs from the 'workforce' as it includes all people who reside in the local area who are either employed or who are looking for work (unemployed). The local labour force is an important resource for the local economy as it represents the locally available human resources (skills, knowledge and experience) upon which the economy can draw. In a regional area, most industries rely on the local labour force to provide their workers, whereas in metropolitan areas, industries can draw on a labour pool that extends beyond the region.

Age structure

Derived from the Census question, "What is the person’s date of birth (or age last birthday)?"

The age structure of an area's labour force is indicative of the residential role and function of the local area. This includes factors such as when the area was settled; what types of households live there; the level of access the area has to employment, services and facilities; the local dwelling stock characteristics (including cost of housing); local amenity and a range of other factors that attract people to an area. The age structure of the labour force is indicative of the skill-levels and experience that local businesses can draw upon. For example, a younger labour force, while less experienced, is typically more mobile and has higher level skills in use of new technologies.

To get a more complete understanding of the age structure of the labour force and what it may mean to the local economy, age structure should be analysed in conjunction with Occupations, Qualifications, Hours Worked and Incomes.

Data options:
Select gender:

Age structure of the labour force Place of usual residence

Age structure by gender of the labour force, Bega Valley Shire, 20062006
GenderAge groupnumber% of totalRegional NSW %
Persons15-24 years1,78813.317.3
Persons25-34 years1,72712.918.1
Persons35-44 years3,14223.423.5
Persons45-54 years4,05330.224.6
Persons55-64 years2,21716.513.6
Persons65-74 years3932.92.4
Persons75-84 years720.50.5
Persons85 years and over80.10.1
PersonsTotal13,400100.0100.0
Age structure of the labour force, Bega Valley Shire and Regional NSW 2006 15-24 years, Regional NSW: 17.3% 25-34 years, Regional NSW: 18.1% 35-44 years, Regional NSW: 23.5% 45-54 years, Regional NSW: 24.6% 55-64 years, Regional NSW: 13.6% 65-74 years, Regional NSW: 2.4% 75-84 years, Regional NSW: 0.5% 85 years and over, Regional NSW: 0.1% 15-24 years, Bega Valley Shire: 13.3% 25-34 years, Bega Valley Shire: 12.9% 35-44 years, Bega Valley Shire: 23.4% 45-54 years, Bega Valley Shire: 30.2% 55-64 years, Bega Valley Shire: 16.5% 65-74 years, Bega Valley Shire: 2.9% 75-84 years, Bega Valley Shire: 0.5% 85 years and over, Bega Valley Shire: 0.1%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2006.

Please refer to the specific data notes for more information.