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The remainder of the population are not in the labour force. There are many reasonswhy people may not be in the labour force. They may not wish or be able to workbecause they are in education, retired, caring for family members, have a disabilityor poor health or have some other means of financial support. Alternatively, theycould be discouraged jobseekers who would like work but are not actively lookingfor work. People may become discouraged jobseekers because they believe thatthere is not a suitable job in their area, the costs of searching are too great, or theybelieve that they do not have the appropriate skills or qualifications (Hunter andGray 1999). It is likely that the extent of unemployment, particularly long termunemployment, is underestimated because of discouraged jobseekers. After peoplehave been unemployed for long periods of time they are more likely to drop out ofthe labour force. Indigenous people may also be engaged in activities outside of thelabour force, through participation in traditional or customary activities, or occupiedwith activities that often generate income such as the production of Indigenous artbut which are not always recorded as employment (Altman et al. 2006).Data for the labour force participation and unemployment indicator in this Reportare from several ABS surveys, including the 2004-05 National Aboriginal andTorres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSIHS) and the 2004-05 National HealthSurvey (NHS), 2002 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey(NATSISS), 2002 General Social Survey (GSS) and the 1994 National Aboriginaland Torres Strait Islander Survey (NATSIS).Most 2004-05 data for this indicator are reported for the population aged 15 to 64years, as this is used by the ABS in measuring the economic participation of apopulation. The age of 15 years is the lowest practical limit above the compulsoryschooling age of young people at which it is feasible to measure the participation ofyoung people in economic activity with acceptable accuracy. The age of 64 years iswhen most people have left the workforce for retirement. Data for people aged 18 to64 years are also reported to compare outcomes in 2004-05 with those in 1994 and2002.When comparing the Indigenous and non-Indigenous labour force in this Report,data are age standardised to take account of the differing age structures of theIndigenous and non-Indigenous populations. Where data by age group are beingcompared, adjustment for the differing age structures is not required.The labour force participation and unemployment data used in this chapter areinfluenced by the Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP)program. The CDEP program is an Australian Government funded initiative thatprovides activities for unemployed Indigenous people to develop work skills andmove into employment. The original aim of the CDEP scheme, when introduced in1977, was to create local employment opportunities in remote Indigenous40 OVERCOMINGINDIGENOUSDISADVANTAGE 2007