Slide 1- Overview of the labour market in Alice Springs

Notes

Presented on 18 June 2015 by Ivan Neville, Labour Market Research and Analysis Branch,

Department of Employment

Slide 2: Alice Springs

Notes

This presentation refers to two geographical entities. The Alice Springs region is the Alice Springs SA3, while Alice Springs essentially encompasses the township and corresponds with the Alice Springs LGA.

Slide 3- Alice Springs region population profile

Notes

The Alice Springs region has a relatively young population with a median age of 31 years. Nevertheless, population growth is relatively moderate. Importantly, the population has a very high indigenous population which includes a very large cohort of young people aged 10-19.

Slide 4: Unemployment declining in Alice Springs

Notes

After rising for several years the unemployment rate began to fall in late 2013. The fall in the unemployment rate has persisted into 2015 and now stands at 3.9 per cent, a figure slightly lower than the Territory average.

Slide 5: …but there is a high level of Indigenous unemployment..

Slide 6: ..accompanied by widespread reliance on income support

Notes

Accompanying the high unemployment rate for the Indigenous population is a widespread reliance on income support, far greater than the non-Indigenous population. Some 73 per cent of the Indigenous working age population receive an income support payment. Not only is there a high level of reliance on unemployment benefits, a considerable proportion of the Indigenous working age population rely on Disability Support Pensions and Parenting Payments.

Slide 7: Half of Indigenous population under 25

Notes

Half of the Indigenous population is aged under 25, while only 31% per cent of the non-Indigenous population is represented by this cohort. A large proportion of this young Indigenous population is at the cusp of entering the labour force.

Slide 8: …with many young Indigenous people disengaged from work and study (20-24 year

olds)

Notes

Many Indigenous young adults remain disengaged from the labour force. Additionally, many are also not studying and therefore are limiting their options to enter the work force.

Slide 9: Have Indigenous outcomes improved?

Notes

On the whole, despite some improvement in educational attainment, between 2006-2011 Indigenous labour market outcomes did not improve.

Slide 10: Where are the jobs?

Slide 11: Public Administration and Health are leading employers

Notes

Public Administration and Health are leading employers and are also large employers of Indigenous people. While Education and Training and the Other Services industries also commonly employ Indigenous people, in many other major industries Indigenous people are also well represented.

Slide 12: ..which have been growing

Slide 13: ..and which will continue to grow in the future

Slide 14: Employment dominated by higher skilled occupations

Notes

Higher skilled occupations, such as Professionals and Technicians and Trades Workers, dominate employment in NT Outback. Lower skilled occupations, such as Sales Workers, Machinery Operators and Drivers and Labourers, represent just 21 per cent of employment in NT Outback, compared to 26 per cent nationally.

Slide 15: ..which have been growing in recent years

Slide 16: …and for which there has been a heavy reliance on non-local labour

Notes

More than one third of employed Alice Springs residents lived elsewhere in 2006. Some came from other localities in the Northern Territory but the vast majority (89 per cent) came from Interstate or Overseas. Those who do migrate to Alice Springs often work in higher skilled occupations such as Professionals, an occupation group for which they account for 48 per cent of employment.

Slide 17: Finishing Year 12 significantly improves Indigenous labour market outcomes

Notes

Those who finish Year 12 in Alice Springs have better labour market outcomes. This is especially the case for Indigenous people.

Slide 18: Education and training is vital…

Slide 19: Indigenous training by occupation group

Notes

Indigenous traineeship and apprenticeship completions have increased considerably in the last five years. However, this trend is almost entirely accounted for by traineeships in hospitality. While there are employment opportunities in this occupation, many young Indigenous people may benefit from undertaking traineeships in other occupations where there are good employment opportunities such as Technicians and Trades Workers.

Slide 20: What are employers telling us?

Slide 21: Recruitment activity…

Notes While many employers in Alice Springs recruited in the 12 months to March 2015, a large majority of this recruitment was due to staff turnover.

Slide 22: Close to half of employers experience difficulty recruiting

Notes

Employers in Alice Springs commonly experienced difficulty when recruiting. While difficulty was more widespread for employers recruiting for higher skilled occupations, employers in Alice Springs were far more likely to experience difficulty when recruiting for lower skilled occupations, compared to elsewhere in Australia.

Slide 23: …and the major reasons why…

Slide 24: …whilst employers receive few applicants

Notes

Competition for vacancies was relatively low in Alice Springs, particular when compared to the average across Australian regions (10 applicants per vacancy). Additionally, half of all applicants made it to interviews, compared to the average of one quarter across Australian regions. Additional source: Department of Employment, Survey of Employers’ Recruitment Experiences, all regions surveyed to December 2014

Slide 25: Reasons why applicants don’t get an interview

Slide 26: Soft skills employers look for…

Slide 27: Many jobs in Alice Springs are not advertised

Notes

While there was widespread use of the internet and newspapers one half of employers used informal recruitment methods only, most particularly word of mouth. This demonstrates the value of job seekers being proactive and approaching employers personally.

Slide 28: Jobs employers are planning to recruit for in Northern Territory Outback

Slide 29: Single greatest concern for the future

Slide 30: What can we do to improve Indigenous job prospects?

Notes

Employers have provided a range of suggestions on ways to improve Indigenous labour market outcomes. Many employers thought that things could be done to prepare job seekers for work, such as education, training and work experience. Many other employers believed that strengthening employer engagement was a good strategy, most typically through subsidies, mentoring and making the workplace more flexible for Indigenous employees.

Slide 31: Job search tools

Slide 32: Further Information

Notes

Further information can be found on the following websites:

www.employment.gov.au/regionalreports

www.lmip.gov.au

www.employment.gov.au/SkillShortages

www.employment.gov.au/australianjobs

www.joboutlook.gov.au

www.employment.gov.au/2015-16-budget-employment-overview

Slide 33: Questions?

Notes

If you have any questions about the presentation please contact the Employer Surveys Section or Recruitment Analysis Section on: Tel: 1800 059 439 or Email: recruitmentsurveys@employment.gov.au

Slide 34: Final slide