Skills and Participation

Participation measures the proportion of the population fifteen years and above who are either working or actively seeking work.

Fact
Tasmania has the lowest participation rate in the nation.

Who are not in work or looking for work, and why?

50,000over - 70 years of age
45,000 - domestic duties
20,000 - students
*24,000 - marginally attached
*6,000 - interested in work at a later time

	Who are these 150,000 not participating?	10,500 unemployed	236,500 employed
	Not participating = 38%	Participation rate = 61.8%
	150,000 not in the labour market	247,000 in labour market = those in work or looking for work
	Tasmania’s working age population > 15 years = 398,000
Tasmania’s population = 496,000

The Tasmanian participation rate is currently only 62%. This means 150,000 Tasmanians over the age of 15 years do not participate. This large number of Tasmanians includes 50,000 over the age of 70 years, 45,000 providing domestic duties, 20,000 who are students, and 24,000 Tasmanians marginally attached to the labour market (7). Marginal attachment to the labour market is considered to be those persons who want to work and are actively looking for work but not available to start work within one week, or want to work but are not actively looking for work and are available to start work within four weeks.

Connection to a workplace, through volunteering or paid employment, is often the strongest link an individual has to a community. While individuals may participate in many communities that reflect shared interests or social needs, participation in the labour market builds skills and productivity. Identifying and engaging with those not currently participating is imperative. Attracting and assisting individuals into the labour market is essential to build community capacity and to the success of the Tasmanian Skills Strategy.

It is evident that the number of Tasmanians not participating in the labour market, not in work and not registered as seeking work is increasing. It is also evident, that those currently registered as long term unemployed, not participating, or who are marginalised from the community are likely to be characterised by one or more of the following factors:

low levels of education;
having a disability;
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander;
migrant or humanitarian entrant,
from communities with concentrations of disadvantage;
with a history of offending; or
retired from the workforce.

These characteristics along with high rates of unemployment, long-term unemployment and non-participation in the labour market, are highly localised in our communities.

This creates a need to place issues of social inclusion and equity, alongside jobs and skills, at the heart of this strategy to allow as many Tasmanians as possible to gain skills to share in the rewards of a growing economy and make that growth sustainable.

(7) ABS 4102.0 Australian Social Trends Table 2.6 Work, Tas. Summary 1996-2006