Indicator: Employment

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What the results tell us for Tumut

The unemployment rate for Tumut Shire Council, from June 1997 to June 2000, has been generally higher than either the national rate or the NSW unemployment rate. However, in December 1999, the unemployment rate fell below the National and NSW rates to about 6%. At the end of the reporting period the trend was towards an increasing unemployment rate, with the unemployment rate slightly above the National rate by June 2000.

The recent establishment of the VISY timber product industry in Tumut is likely to contribute significantly towards an increased number of employed persons within the next reporting period. VISY currently has an employment base of 600 to 800 people during the current construction phase and there are indications that the new industry will create several hundred permanent jobs in Tumut.

During 1994–99, Tumut experienced a net population loss of 355 people (-3.1%) and the labour force represented 55% of the population.

Figure 1. Number of people employed from June 1997 to June 2000

Figure 2. Estimated unemployment rate in Tumut, NSW and Australia from
June 1997 to June 2000

About the data

Estimated resident population data for Local Government Areas in the Australian Capital Region were provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (Catalogue Number 1362.1), and they were also published in ACT In Focus 2000.

All data represented in graphs was derived from the Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business Small Area Labour Markets–Australia database. The database is updated quarterly and information was provided for this Regional State of the Environment Report for the period March 1997 to June 2000.

All Local Government Area boundaries within the Australian Capital Region align with Statistical Local Area boundaries.

Description: What does 'employment' measure?

Which data are collected?

• part-time and full-time employment rates in each industry sector (adjusted by seasonality) and number of hours worked
• proportion of casual/contract jobs compared with permanent jobs
• unemployment numbers and rates by age

Why do we report this indicator?

The creation of or decline in employment opportunity has implications for quality of life in that earnings from paid work are a major influence on levels of well-being. People who are unemployed or who are poorly paid (due to infrequent, casual work for example) are at a greater risk of sickness, mental illness and premature death, and they are more frequent users of medical services (Abraham et al. 1970).

Employment rates also indicate the economic competitiveness and well-being of a township or region, in terms of its ability to supply and maintain infrastructure and services. The loss of less-skilled jobs in some areas, in favour of knowledge-based industries in others has meant that wider employment opportunities are not available in some areas. The result is that people need to move to gain education, skills and employment, or continue living in areas where employment opportunities and training opportunities are less.

Because of trends in types of employment, it is necessary to consider employment rates by sector, as well as in terms of full-time and permanent part-time employment rates, and number of hours worked. Increases in permanent part-time work are not necessarily undesirable for all because of the greater opportunity for paid employment to more people, and an increased flexibility of lifestyle to those employed. However, increases in casual and contract employment reflect an increasing trend towards "just-in-time" labour, which is not necessarily to the advantage of employees due to the associated financial difficulties that can be experienced. Results should, therefore, be interpreted with caution.

Reference: Abraham B, d'Espaignet ET, Stevenson C (1995) Australian Health Trends 1995. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, AGPS, Canberra.