This population is derived from the Census. It is the place where a person usually lives, rather than the place where they were counted on Census night. Each person completing the Census is required to state their address of usual residence and this information is used to derive the Usual Residence population.

Census counts compiled on this basis are less likely to be influenced by seasonal factors, such as holiday seasons and snow seasons, and provide information about the usual residents of an area.

In 2006 all Census data are provided for usual residence as well as enumerated population. Previously household information was released as enumerated only (please see the detailed note for household and family type).

For detailed information about usual residence and enumerated population please refer to the ABS Fact Sheet Population Measures.

In economy.id^®, the section "Your Resource - What does our labour force look like?" is presented on the basis of usual residence.

In economy.id^®, Usual Residence population is used in the "Our Resources" section to present the characteristics of the resident population.

The working population is derived from the Census. It is based on the question "For the main job held last week, what was the person’s workplace address?" and represents the number of people who work in an area (regardless of where they live). The working population applies only to people aged 15 and over, and who are employed. For this reason it should not be considered to be the "daytime population", as this concept also includes, shoppers, students and other population groups traveling to an area in the daytime. Also not all work is done in the daytime, with shift-work being the norm in some industries.

The working population is the basis for the worker profiles by industry section of economy.id^®.

In economy.id^®, the working population is used in the Industry Structure and Workforce sections under "Our Economy".

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) will randomise information it provides to preserve confidentiality. All cells are slightly adjusted to prevent any identification of personal details. Methodologies for doing this have changed between 2001 and 2006.

• Data tables released prior to the 2006 Census had small numbers (values of 1 or 2) randomly adjusted to either 0 or 3 by the ABS. As tables are randomly adjusted independently of each other, totals differ slightly across tables with the same population. The affect of randomisation is increased with the aggregation of Census Collector Districts into suburbs.
• In relation to the 2006 data, a new method called 'perturbation' has been introduced. All figures included within any table may be randomly adjusted by a small amount. These adjustments result in small introduced random errors. Although the information value of the table as a whole is not impaired, care should be taken when interpreting very small numbers, since randomisation will affect the relative size of small numbers far more than larger numbers. The effect of the randomisation methodology also ensures that values of 1 and 2 do not appear in tables.

No reliance should be placed on small cells as they are impacted by random adjustment, respondent and processing errors.

Table totals and subtotals will be internally consistent but discrepancies may be observed between tables cross-tabulating the same population by different variables. While randomisation compromises the table totals by making them appear inconsistent, this is the best available socio-demographic data at the suburb level. This level of compromise is not statistically significant and should not impact on decision makers making effective resource allocation and planning decisions.

The labour force is derived from the Census. It is based on the question, "Last week did the person have a full time or part time job of any kind?" and relates only to persons aged 15 years or more who are looking for work, or are employed, either full time, part time or casually.

"Employed full time" is defined as having worked 35 hours or more in all jobs during the week prior to Census night.

"Employed part time" is defined as having worked less than 35 hours in all jobs during the week prior to Census night.

The 'Labour Force' section in economy.id^®, under "Our Resources", represents key characteristics of people who are either employed or who are looking for work (unemployed) in the local area (the local labour force) or in the region (the regional labour force).

The local labour force includes all people in the labour force who are resident in the local area regardless of where they work (if working). The local labour force is an important resource for the local economy as it represents the locally available human resources upon which the economy can draw upon. However it does not represent the total potential skill resource available to the local economy. This is because there are typically a significant number of people who are employed in the local economy who reside outside of the local area (the regional labour force).

The regional labour force represents the pool of potential labour force skills available to the local area from the region (the labour force region). The labour force region is defined as surrounding areas for which the local area is a significant destination for its workers. More specifically, it includes any Statistical Local Area (sub-LGA areas) in which 4% or more of employed resident persons travel to the local area for work.

The regional labour force data represents ALL people in the labour force resident in the region, regardless of where they work (if working). It shows what potential there is to draw on skills, knowledge and experience available within the region.

Statistical Local Areas (SLAs) included in the South West Group's labour force region: