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.

Industry sectors

Derived from the two Census questions, '[What] best describes the business of [your] employer?' and 'What are the main goods produced or main services provided by [your] employer's business?' and relates only to persons aged 15 years or more.

The Industry Sector data identifies the industries in which the residents of an area work (this may be within the residing area or elsewhere). The Industry Sectors in which the residents of an area work is indicative of the skill base and (to some extent) the socio-economic status and industry structure of an area. The industries that are prominent in an area are strongly related to a range of factors including:

  • the economic base and employment opportunities available within commuting distance;
  • the educational levels of the local population; and
  • the working and social aspirations of the local population.

Comparing the industry sectors in which local residents are employed to the industry sectors that are located in the local area 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. To find out whether residents of the local area work in the local area or elsewhere (level of self-containment by industry sector), go to the section 'Where do the residents work?'

Data options:
Select gender:

Industry sector of employment for 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.

Industry groups by gender of the local labour force, the South West Group, 20062006
GenderIndustry groupnumber%City of Melville %
PersonsAgriculture, Forestry and Fishing1,1190.80.5
PersonsMining4,4223.03.2
PersonsManufacturing16,99511.48.1
PersonsElectricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services1,4371.01.0
PersonsConstruction12,7098.56.5
PersonsWholesale Trade5,7963.94.0
PersonsRetail Trade16,17510.910.7
PersonsAccommodation and Food Services8,0555.46.1
PersonsTransport, Postal and Warehousing6,1304.13.2
PersonsInformation Media and Telecommunications1,6181.11.4
PersonsFinancial and Insurance Services4,0302.73.8
PersonsRental, Hiring and Real Estate Services2,8961.92.5
PersonsProfessional, Scientific and Technical Services9,3846.39.0
PersonsAdministrative and Support Services4,4683.02.7
PersonsPublic Administration and Safety10,2136.95.9
PersonsEducation and Training11,9038.010.3
PersonsHealth Care and Social Assistance15,08810.111.2
PersonsArts and Recreation Services1,9671.31.5
PersonsOther Services5,1123.43.1
PersonsNot stated1,6921.11.0
PersonsInadequately described2,1371.41.2
PersonsUnemployed5,7093.83.0
PersonsTotal149,055100.0100.0
Industry groups of the local labour force, South West Group and City of Melville 2006 Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing, City of Melville: 0.5% Mining, City of Melville: 3.2% Manufacturing, City of Melville: 8.1% Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services, City of Melville: 1.0% Construction, City of Melville: 6.5% Wholesale Trade, City of Melville: 4.0% Retail Trade, City of Melville: 10.7% Accommodation and Food Services, City of Melville: 6.1% Transport, Postal and Warehousing, City of Melville: 3.2% Information Media and Telecommunications, City of Melville: 1.4% Financial and Insurance Services, City of Melville: 3.8% Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services, City of Melville: 2.5% Professional, Scientific and Technical Services, City of Melville: 9.0% Administrative and Support Services, City of Melville: 2.7% Public Administration and Safety, City of Melville: 5.9% Education and Training, City of Melville: 10.3% Health Care and Social Assistance, City of Melville: 11.2% Arts and Recreation Services, City of Melville: 1.5% Other Services, City of Melville: 3.1% Not stated, City of Melville: 1.0% Inadequately described, City of Melville: 1.2% Unemployed, City of Melville: 3.0% Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing, South West Group: 0.8% Mining, South West Group: 3.0% Manufacturing, South West Group: 11.4% Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services, South West Group: 1.0% Construction, South West Group: 8.5% Wholesale Trade, South West Group: 3.9% Retail Trade, South West Group: 10.9% Accommodation and Food Services, South West Group: 5.4% Transport, Postal and Warehousing, South West Group: 4.1% Information Media and Telecommunications, South West Group: 1.1% Financial and Insurance Services, South West Group: 2.7% Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services, South West Group: 1.9% Professional, Scientific and Technical Services, South West Group: 6.3% Administrative and Support Services, South West Group: 3.0% Public Administration and Safety, South West Group: 6.9% Education and Training, South West Group: 8.0% Health Care and Social Assistance, South West Group: 10.1% Arts and Recreation Services, South West Group: 1.3% Other Services, South West Group: 3.4% Not stated, South West Group: 1.1% Inadequately described, South West Group: 1.4% Unemployed, South West Group: 3.8%

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

Please refer to the specific data notes for more information.