South West Group

The labour force

The labour force section is presented in two sections to answer the following questions:

  • What are the local labour force characteristics?
  • What potential skills and knowledge can be drawn from the regional labour force?

The 'labour force' data represents key characteristics of people who are either employed or who are looking for work (unemployed).

Local 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. The local labour force is an important resource for the local economy, 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.

Regional labour force

The regional labour force represents the pool of potential labour force skills available to the local area from the region. It is defined on the basis of 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. It shows what potential there is to draw on other skills, knowledge and experience available within the region.

More information on the 'Regional labour force' geography and its constituent Statistical Local Areas (SLAs) please see the Populations and geographies section.

Level of qualification

Derived from the Census question, 'What is the level of the highest qualification the person has completed?'

Education is an essential means of building the knowledge and skill levels of the labour force, which is a key factor in achieving future economic and social development. The level of Educational Qualifications in the local labour force relate to a number of factors including:

  • the age structure of the labour force;
  • the professional or social ambitions of people to obtain qualifications (that is, to seek education and retraining);
  • the opportunities afforded to people to continue studying beyond compulsory schooling; and the knowledge and skill requirements of the local industries.

Educational Qualifications information should be looked at in conjunction with Income and Occupation data for a clearer picture of the knowledge and skill level of the local labour force.

When comparing the Qualifications of people who reside in the local area (The Local Labour Force) with those who work in the local area (The Workforce), and viewed in conjunction with levels of employment self containment (Where do the residents work?), Qualifications data indicates whether an economy draws on the skills offered by its own residents or on a different set of skills imported from elsewhere in the region.

Data options:
Select gender:

Qualifications of the local labour force Place of usual residence

The "local" (or resident) labour force includes all persons that were usually resident in the South West Group on Census night regardless of where they worked and who were either employed or looking for work.

Qualifications by gender of the local labour force, the South West Group, 20062006
GenderField of studynumber%City of Melville %
PersonsBachelor or Higher degree30,29920.331.6
PersonsAdvanced Diploma or Diploma14,1219.511.2
PersonsCertificate IV Level3,2332.21.7
PersonsCertificate III Level25,34217.011.6
PersonsCertificate I and II Level1,7211.20.8
PersonsCertificate Level, nfd3,2082.22.1
PersonsNo qualification62,65742.035.9
PersonsInadequately described/Not stated8,4825.75.1
PersonsTotal149,063100.0100.0
Qualifications of the local labour force, South West Group and City of Melville 2006 Bachelor or Higher degree, City of Melville: 31.6% Advanced Diploma or Diploma, City of Melville: 11.2% Certificate IV Level, City of Melville: 1.7% Certificate III Level, City of Melville: 11.6% Certificate I and II Level, City of Melville: 0.8% Certificate Level, nfd, City of Melville: 2.1% No qualification, City of Melville: 35.9% Inadequately described/Not stated, City of Melville: 5.1% Bachelor or Higher degree, South West Group: 20.3% Advanced Diploma or Diploma, South West Group: 9.5% Certificate IV Level, South West Group: 2.2% Certificate III Level, South West Group: 17.0% Certificate I and II Level, South West Group: 1.2% Certificate Level, nfd, South West Group: 2.2% No qualification, South West Group: 42.0% Inadequately described/Not stated, South West Group: 5.7%

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

Please refer to the specific data notes for more information.