Emigration 2009 - Department of Immigration & Citizenship

1
Main Features
In the financial year of 2008-09:
In total
The number of permanent departures was 81 018, an increase of 5.3 per cent over the previous year.
Since 1975-76 permanent departures have ranged from a low of 18 100 in 1985-86 to 81 018 in
2008-09.
Permanent departures as a proportion of permanent arrivals was lowest (14.3 per cent) in 1987-88 and
highest (54.3 per cent) in 2001-02.
Overseas born residents departing permanently as a proportion of total permanent departures has been
approximately 50 per cent since 1998-99.
Of the total permanent departures 50.9 per cent were born in Australia (incl ext territories).
By country of birth
Of the 39 769 permanent departures who were born overseas, 20.1 per cent were born in New
Zealand and 15.5 per cent were born in the United Kingdom.
By period of residence
Of the 39 769 permanent departures who were born overseas, 69.2 per cent had resided in
Australia for five years or more.
13.9 per cent of overseas born permanent departures had lived in Australia for less than two
years.
By major region, Southeast Asia had the highest proportion who had resided in Australia for five
years or more at 72.7 per cent, while Central Asia was the lowest at 55.8 per cent, from a small
base of 104 persons total, followed by Northern America at 62.5 per cent.
By occupation
Of the total permanent departures, 47.8 per cent were in skilled occupations. Of these, 56.0 per
cent were Australian born and 44.0 per cent were overseas born.
56.2 per cent of male and 39.0 per cent of female permanent departures were in skilled
occupations
30.5 per cent of all permanent departures were not in the labour force.
By age and state/territory of residence
The age distribution of permanent departures is similar for all state/territories. The age group
25-34 years was the largest except for the Northern Territory, followed by the 35-44 years age
group, except for the Northern territory were it is the largest, then 45-54 years respectively.
For all states/territories more than 45 per cent of permanent departures were aged 25-44 years.
This age group ranged from a low of 45.9 per cent for Queensland to a high of 52.5 per cent for
Victoria.
New South Wales (40.9 per cent) was the state where the largest number of permanent
departures previously resided followed by Victoria (21.1 per cent) and Queensland (20.6 per
cent).