Chapter 4 - Department of Business

Chapter 4 

Northern Territory Regional Profi les 

65

66 

DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND EMPLOYMENT 


Northern Territory Regional Profi les 

Northern Territory Regional Profiles 

1. INTRODUCTION 

This chapter provides labour force information for the five regions of the 

Northern Territory (NT): 

Darwin and Regions (Darwin Region) 

East Arnhem Region 

Katherine Region 

Barkly Region 

Central Region. 

2. SUMMARY OF CONTENTS 

The following information for each region is provided in separate sections: 

Population 

Education 

Labour Force Characteristics 

Employment by Industry and Occupation 

Labour Supply and Demand. 

REPORT


Northern Territory Regional Profi les - Darwin Region 

Darwin and Regions (Darwin Region) 


This regional snapshot provides information on the economic background of the Darwin 

region, and includes information on the cost of living. 

A map showing the breakdown of the Darwin region into its sub-regions, towns and 

communities is shown below in Figure 4.1. The Darwin region is split into seven sub-regions; 

Alligator, Bathurst-Melville, Daly, Darwin City, Finniss, Litchfield Shire and Palmerston-East Arm. 

Figure 4.1 Regional Map (ABS, Customised Unpublished Maps, 2008) 

PALMERSTON 

– EAST ARM 

Wadeye 

Palumpa 

BATHURST – MELVILLE 

Nguiu 

DARWIN CITY 

FINNISS 

Batchelor 

Daly River 

Milikapiti 

Pirlangimpi 

Adelaide River 

DALY 

DARWIN AND REGIONS 

LITCHFIELD 

SHIRE 

Pine Creek 

Jabiru 

Minjilang 

Gunbalanya 

Warruwi 

ALLIGATOR 

Maningrida 

The Darwin region accounts for more than half of the Northern Territory (NT) population. 

Darwin City and Palmerston-East Arm sub-regions are the major service centres in the NT. 

Major industries in the region include construction, defence and tourism. The Northern 

Territory Public Sector is also a substantial area of employment in the region. 

67 

DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND EMPLOYMENT

68 




Darwin City has experienced strong population and construction activity growth in 

recent years, and further tourism-related, residential and lifestyle developments are at 

various stages of planning. The Darwin Convention Centre and the Darwin Waterfront 

Development are expected to increase the number of tourists visiting Darwin. Darwin 

City is also an important defence base and is home to Larrakeyah Barracks, RAAF Base 

Darwin and Defence Establishment Berrimah 1 . 

Significant industries in Palmerston-East Arm and Litchfield Shire include defence and 

primary industries, such as mango and tropical fruit growing, horticulture and aquaculture 

and cattle and crocodile farming. East Arm Wharf and Darwin Business Park significantly 

add to the Territory’s transport, logistics and industry capability. The region is also home 

to Robertson Barracks, including the First Brigade with new Abrams tanks and the First 

Aviation Regiment with new Tiger helicopters 2 . 

The mining industry, which includes Toms Gully, Ranger and Browns oxide mines, 

contributes significantly to the region’s economic activity. Other important rural industries, 

such as cattle, farming, and horticulture and agriculture, are supported by the Coastal 

Plains Horticultural Research Farm and Douglas Daly Research Farm. The construction 

of an onshore treatment plant and connecting pipeline to source gas from the Blacktip 

gas fields will also boost the Territory’s resources sector. There are several major tourist 

destinations in the region, including the Tiwi Islands, Litchfield National Park and Kakadu 

National Park 3 . 

1.1. Cost of Living4 In December 2007, grocery prices in Darwin town were the second lowest in the NT. 

Prices have grown by an average of 5.1% per annum since December 2005, the third 

highest growth of all NT towns surveyed5 . 

In June 2008, fuel prices in Darwin town were the second lowest in the NT, with the least 

expensive being in Katherine town. Fuel prices in the NT have risen dramatically over 

the past year; in Darwin town prices rose by 18% to 168.7 cents per litre (June 2008). Fuel 

prices in Darwin town have risen by an average 8% per year for the ten years to June 

2008, which is the second fastest growth for all NT towns surveyed over the last ten years 6 . 

Property rental vacancy rates have generally been declining in Darwin City and 

Palmerston-East Arm since 2001, from a high of 13% in December 2001 to lows of 0.5% in 

Darwin City and 0.9% in Palmerston-East Arm in March 2008 7 . This suggests a prolonged 

high level of demand for accommodation in the region. 

Darwin region is characterised by relatively high petrol and grocery costs and strong 

demand for accommodation. Economic expansion in the NT, centred in the Darwin 

region, will continue to drive prices and demand for accommodation. This may put 

pressure on wages and make it difficult to attract and retain workers if they are unable to 

find appropriate accommodation. 

1 Budget 2007-08, Budget Paper, Regional Highlights, Darwin, Northern Territory Treasury, May 2007 

2 Budget 2007-08, Budget Paper, Regional Highlights, Palmerston and Litchfield, Northern Territory Treasury, May 2007 

3 Budget 2007-08, Budget Paper, Regional Highlights, Top End Rural, Northern Territory Treasury, May 2007 

4 Information in this section is collated from different sources. For information on the geographical boundaries of locations 

discussed refer to the original source. 

5 Grocery Price Survey December 2007, Northern Territory Treasury, April 2008 

6 Australian Automobile Association website, www.aaa.asn.au/issues/petrol.htm, accessed 12 May 2008 

7 Special Data Request, Real Estate Institute of the Northern Territory, May 2008 

REPORT



2. POPULATION 

The population of a region can be a major determinant of economic activity. 

Population growth means more people are available for work and demand for goods 

and services increases. 

This section profiles the characteristics of the population in the Darwin region and 

includes statistics on: 

Population growth or decline 

Age and gender 

Indigenous proportion of the population. 

2.1. Population Distribution and Growth 

Table 4.2 provides Estimated Resident Population (ERP) figures and population growth 

rates for the Darwin region over the period 1997 - 2007. The ERP figures are calculated 

by adjusting usual resident population figures from the 2006 Census for births, deaths and 

migration. This means that ERP totals will differ from the Census figures provided in the rest 

of the chapter. 

69 


70 




Table 4.2 Population Distribution and Regional Growth Rates (at 30 June each year) (a) 

Bathurst 

Darwin 

Litchfield Palmerston Darwin 

Alligator – Melville Daly City Finniss Shire – East Arm Region NT Australia 

Population Total 

1997 6 033 2 233 3 617 69 706 1 905 14 384 14 801 112 679 186 912 18 517 564 

2002 6 218 2 455 3 768 68 710 1 873 15 573 22 559 121 156 199 442 19 652 562 

2006 6 921 2 512 4 360 71 933 2 170 16 546 25 889 130 331 210 674 20 701 488 

2007 7 009 2 565 4 466 72 852 2 191 17 358 27 185 133 626 214 975 21 017 222 

Annual Growth Rates (%) 

1997 - 2007 1.5 1.4 2.1 0.4 1.4 1.9 6.3 1.7 1.4 1.3 

(10 years) 

2002 - 2007 2.1 0.9 3.0 1.2 2.4 2.1 3.1 1.8 1.5 1.4 

(5 years) 

2006 - 2007 1.3 2.1 2.4 1.3 1.0 4.9 5.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 

Population Distribution 

% Population 5.2 1.9 3.3 54.5 1.6 13.0 20.3 100.0 N/A N/A 

REPORT 

Source: ABS Catalogue 3218.0 Regional Population Growth, Australia, March 2008 

ABS, Special Data Request, 2008 

Note/s: (a) Based on estimated resident population.



Darwin region accounts for 62% of the NT’s population with 75% of the region’s 

population residing in Darwin City and Palmerston-East Arm sub-regions. 

The region’s population increased by an average of 1.7% per annum over the period 

1997 - 2007, compared with 1.4% per annum for the NT. This strong growth is leading 

to a concentration of the NT’s population in the region. 

Palmerston-East Arm sub-region had the highest population growth over the last 

ten years, with an average growth of 6% per annum. In comparison, Darwin City 

sub-region had an annual growth rate of only 0.4%, the lowest of all the sub-regions, 

in the last ten years. 

However, Darwin capital city area was the fastest growing in Australia in 2006-07. 

Underpinning this was the growth in Palmerston-East Arm, which recorded the largest 

growth of all NT Territory local government areas in the year 8 . 

2.2. General Demographics 

The population statistics in the following sections are based on the ABS Census place of 

usual residence. These are actual counts of the population and differ from the ERP figures 

provided earlier. 

Table 4.3 provides general population statistics and characteristics for the Darwin region. 

8 Population: capital city growth rate up!, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Media release 31 March 2008 

71 


72 




Table 4.3 General Population Statistics (2006) (a) 

Bathurst- 

Darwin 


Alligator Melville Daly City Finniss Shire -East Arm Region NT Australia 

Age 

Median Age 26 26 22 33 42 36 28 32 31 37 

Gender (No.) 

Male 3 178 1 088 1 876 34 207 1 052 8 542 12 334 59 099 99 370 9 799 250 

Female 2 817 1 040 1 846 32 083 905 7 012 11 811 54 697 93 528 10 056 038 

Gender (%) 

Male 53.0 51.1 50.4 51.6 53.8 54.9 51.1 51.9 51.5 49.4 

Female 47.0 48.9 49.6 48.4 46.2 45.1 48.9 48.1 48.5 50.6 

Indigenous 

Number 4 238 1 946 2 949 6 232 497 941 3 089 19 892 53 665 455 018 

Proportion 70.7 91.4 79.2 9.4 25.4 6.0 12.8 16.6 27.8 2.3 

(%) (b) 

REPORT 

Source: ABS Basic Community Profiles, Census 2006 


Note/s: (a) Based on place of usual residence 

(b) People identified as Indigenous as a proportion of each area’s population.



There were more males than females in both the Darwin region and the NT. 

The median age of the population varies across the sub-regions. Finniss has an older 

population with a median age of 42 years while Daly has the youngest population 

with a median age of 22 years. 

The median age of the population in the Darwin region was 32 in 2006, compared 

to 30 in 2001. 

Over half of the region’s Indigenous population reside in the Darwin City and 

Palmerston-East Arm sub-regions. 

The highest concentration of the Indigenous population was in the Bathurst-Melville 

sub region where more than 90% of the population is Indigenous. Further 

information on the Indigenous population can be found in Chapter 5 Indigenous 

Employment Profile. 

2.3. Population Age Distribution 

Table 4.4 provides a detailed age breakdown of the Darwin region, its sub-regions, the NT 

and Australia populations. 

73 


74 




Table 4.4 Age Distribution of Population (2006) (a) 

Bathurst- 


Alligator Melville Daly Darwin City Finniss Shire -East Arm Region NT Australia 

Age No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % 

0-14 1 869 31.2 635 29.9 1 346 36.2 13 341 20.1 406 20.7 3 541 22.8 7 036 29.1 26 305 23.1 47 608 24.7 3 937 206 19.8 

15-24 988 16.5 380 17.9 725 19.5 9 828 14.8 180 9.2 1 997 12.8 3 394 14.1 16 504 14.5 29 370 15.2 2 704 272 13.6 

25-34 1 076 17.9 372 17.5 550 14.8 11 316 17.1 154 7.9 1 788 11.5 4 643 19.2 18 823 16.5 32 056 16.6 2 676 388 13.5 

35-44 930 15.5 345 16.2 435 11.7 10 720 16.2 306 15.6 2 955 19.0 4 178 17.3 18 939 16.6 31 156 16.2 2 937 842 14.8 

45-54 638 10.6 236 11.1 312 8.4 10 055 15.2 356 18.2 2 699 17.4 2 700 11.2 16 358 14.4 26 476 13.7 2 762 512 13.9 

55-64 362 6.0 103 4.8 195 5.2 7 057 10.6 376 19.2 1 745 11.2 1 381 5.7 10 857 9.5 16 952 8.8 2 192 679 11.0 

65+ 132 2.2 53 2.5 158 4.2 3 973 6.0 179 9.1 828 5.3 813 3.4 6 004 5.3 9 281 4.8 2 644 389 13.3 

Total 5 995 100.0 2 124 100.0 3 721 100.0 66 290 100.0 1 957 100.0 15 553 100.0 24 145 100.0 113 790 100.0 192 899 100.0 19 855 288 100.0 

REPORT 


Note/s: (a) Based on place of usual residence.



Finniss sub-region had the highest concentration of mature age people in the region 

with 9% of its population aged 65 years or older. 

The sub-regions with the highest proportion of Indigenous people were also the 

sub-regions with the youngest age profiles. 

Chart 4.5 is a graphical representation of region’s age distribution compared to that 

of the NT. 

Chart 4.5 Age Pyramid, Region Total and NT (2006) (a) 

Darwin Region 

10% 8% 6% 4% 2% 0% 

% Population 


Note/s: (a) Based on place of usual residence. 

There is very little difference between the Darwin region and NT age profiles. This is 

expected because Darwin region contains over 60% of the NT’s population and, as a 

result, will significantly affect the distribution. 

2.4. Population Summary 

85 + 

80-84 

75-79 

70-74 

65-69 

60-64 

55-59 

50-54 

45-49 

40-44 

35-39 

30-34 

25-29 

20-24 

15-19 

10-14 

5-9 

0-4 

0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 

% Population 

The Darwin region has experienced strong population growth over the last ten years, 

growing at a faster rate than the NT and Australia. Sub-regionally, population growth 

varies, most notably when comparing Palmerston-East Arm with Darwin City. 

The region’s population is aging, with the median age increasing from 30 to 32 between 

2001 and 2006. The proportion of the population aged 65 years and over has grown by 

an average of 6.4% per annum, compared to 5.7% for the NT and 2.0% for Australia. 

NT 

75 


76 




The NT is characterised by a young population, with a strong supply of new entrants into 

the labour market. The Darwin region has an older age profile than the rest of the NT, and 

while its working age population (those aged 15 years and over) is increasing at a faster 

rate than Australia’s, its highest growth is concentrated among people aged 65 years 

and over. 

This suggests that while the region has an increasing supply of working age people, the 

workforce is aging faster than the national rate. 

3. EDUCATION 

Education is an indicator of a person’s capacity to take up employment opportunities, 

to develop and maintain businesses and enterprises, to adapt to change, and it can 

assist them in becoming socially inclusive. It is important to understand if a population’s 

education levels match the demands of its labour market. If they do not, it is likely that 

there will be jobs which local people are unable to fill. 

This section provides an educational profile of the Darwin region’s population and 


Highest level of schooling 

Highest level of non-school education 

Field of education. 

Data from the 2006 Census is used to profile the education and training of the NT resident 

population aged 15 years and over. 

3.1. Highest Level of Education - School and Non-School 

Table 4.6 provides an education profile of the Darwin region, its sub-regions, the NT and 

Australia. The information is based on the highest level of schooling completed and the 

highest level of non-school education completed. 

REPORT



Table 4.6 Highest Level of Education Achieved, School and Non-School (2006) (a) (b) 

Alligator Bathurst-Melville Daly Darwin City Finniss 

No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % 

School 

Other (c) 905 22.0 151 10.1 353 14.9 8 860 16.7 372 24.0 

Did Not 

193 4.7 19 1.3 131 5.5 525 1.0 30 1.9 

Attend School 

Below Year 10 1 310 31.8 468 31.3 1 084 45.6 4 660 8.8 300 19.4 

Year 10 687 16.7 439 29.4 338 14.2 9 046 17.1 355 22.9 

Year 11 312 7.6 209 14.0 152 6.4 6 473 12.2 141 9.1 

Year 12 715 17.3 209 14.0 317 13.3 23 383 44.2 350 22.6 

Total 4 122 100.0 1 495 100.0 2 375 100.0 52 947 100.0 1 548 100.0 

375 9.1 85 5.7 141 5.9 13 402 25.3 198 12.8 

Non-School 

Higher 

Education (d) 

Certificate 380 9.2 190 12.7 176 7.4 9 427 17.8 244 15.8 

Other (e) 3 367 81.7 1 220 81.6 2 058 86.7 30 118 56.9 1 106 71.4 

Total 4 122 100.0 1 495 100.0 2 375 100.0 52 947 100.0 1 548 100.0 

77 


78 




Table 4.6 Highest Level of Education Achieved, School and Non-School (2006) (a) (b) (continued) 

Litchfield Shire Palmerston-East Arm Darwin Region NT Australia 

No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % 

School 

Other (c) 2 207 18.4 3 403 19.9 16 251 17.7 26 051 17.9 2 195 961 13.8 

Did Not Attend 48 0.4 88 0.5 1 034 1.1 3 154 2.2 137 674 0.9 

School 

Below Year 10 1 283 10.7 1 482 8.7 10 587 11.6 23 761 16.4 2 084 710 13.1 

Year 10 2 946 24.5 3 898 22.8 17 709 19.3 27 039 18.6 3 437 859 21.6 

Year 11 1 753 14.6 2 594 15.2 11 634 12.7 17 033 11.7 1 404 740 8.8 

Year 12 3 780 31.5 5 647 33.0 34 401 37.5 48 257 33.2 6 657 136 41.8 

Total 12 017 100.0 17 112 100.0 91 616 100.0 145 295 100.0 15 918 080 100.0 

REPORT 

1 867 15.5 2 624 15.3 18 692 20.4 26 456 18.2 3 612 776 22.7 

Non-School 

Higher 

Education (d) 

Certificate 2 769 23.0 3 725 21.8 16 911 18.5 25 018 17.2 2 662 780 16.7 

Other (e) 7 381 61.4 10 763 62.9 56 013 61.1 93 821 64.6 9 642 524 60.6 

Total 12 017 100.0 17 112 100.0 91 616 100.0 145 295 100.0 15 918 080 100.0 

Source: ABS, Special Data Request, 2008 


(b) Population aged 15 years and over 

(c) ‘Other’ includes still at school and not stated 

(d) Higher Education includes Postgraduate Degree, Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate, Bachelor Degree, Advanced Diploma 

and Diploma qualification levels 

(e) ‘Other’ includes persons who do not have a qualification, those whose qualification was not stated, those whose qualification was 

inadequately described, and those with a qualification outside the scope of Australian Standard Classification of Education (ASCED).



Darwin region has a higher proportion of the population who have completed 

Year 12 than the NT overall. Among the sub-regions, Darwin City has the highest 

completion rate, with 44% of the population having completed Year 12. 

Year 12 completion rates and other education levels vary across the sub-regions. 

The majority of the region’s population completed some level of schooling. Five 

percent of the population in the Alligator sub-region and 6% in the Daly sub-region 

had not attended school at all. 

A quarter of the population in Darwin City sub-region have a higher education 

qualification. The majority of these are Bachelor Degree qualifications followed by 

Advanced Diplomas and Diplomas. Litchfield Shire has the highest concentration of 

certificate level qualifications, with 23% of the population having a certificate as their 

highest qualification. Over 70% of these are at Certificate III level or higher. 

Sub-regions with lower levels of school education generally had lower levels of 

higher education attainment. Bathurst-Melville sub-region showed a relatively high 

level of educational attainment at the certificate level, following on from the high 

number of people attaining Year 10. Positively, nearly 80% of these were at 

Certificate III level or above. 

Education levels within the region have increased since 2001. Specifically: 

The proportion of the population with Year 9 or below as their highest level of 

education has declined from 15% in 2001 to 13% in 2006 

The proportion of the population who completed Year 12 increased by 12% over 

the five years to 2006 

Over 55% of the region’s population had a non-school qualification in 2006, 

compared to 49% in 2001 

The number of people with certificate and higher education qualifications 

increased by 19% and 20% respectively over the period. 

3.2. Non-School Education: Field of Study 

Table 4.7 shows field of study figures for people with a non-school qualification in the 

Darwin region, its sub-regions, the NT and Australia. These figures are categorised by the 

ABS Australian Standard Classification of Education (ASCED). 

79 


80 




Table 4.7 Highest Level of Non-School Qualification by Field of Study (2006) (a) (b) 

Alligator Bathurst-Melville Daly Darwin City Finniss 

Field of Study No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % 

Natural and 

29 1.9 6 1.3 3 0.5 904 2.9 15 1.8 

Physical Sciences 

Information Technology 11 0.7 4 0.8 0 0.0 786 2.5 4 0.5 

Engineering and 

185 12.3 36 7.6 72 11.1 4 807 15.5 114 13.7 

Related Technologies 

Architecture 

52 3.5 17 3.6 31 4.8 1 345 4.3 35 4.2 

and Building 

Agriculture, 

58 3.9 27 5.7 35 5.4 635 2.0 40 4.8 

Environmental and 

Related Studies 

Health 70 4.7 48 10.2 32 4.9 2 640 8.5 35 4.2 

Education 95 6.3 53 11.2 58 9.0 2 338 7.5 61 7.3 

Management 

110 7.3 28 5.9 36 5.6 4 434 14.3 67 8.0 

and Commerce 

Society and Culture 67 4.5 32 6.8 35 5.4 3 155 10.2 38 4.6 

Creative Arts 23 1.5 17 3.6 12 1.9 762 2.5 17 2.0 

Food, Hospitality 

60 4.0 9 1.9 27 4.2 1 360 4.4 31 3.7 

and Personal Services 

Other (c) 745 49.5 195 41.3 307 47.4 7 847 25.3 377 45.2 

Total 1 505 100.0 472 100.0 648 100.0 31 013 100.0 834 100.0 

REPORT



Table 4.7 Highest Level of Non-School Qualification by Field of Study (2006) (a) (b) (continued) 

Litchfield Shire Palmerston-East Arm Darwin Region NT Australia 

Field of Study No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % 

Natural and 

140 2.1 167 1.7 1 264 2.5 1 644 2.2 225 008 2.7 


Information Technology 99 1.5 212 2.2 1 116 2.2 1 381 1.8 220 977 2.6 


1 500 22.3 1 691 17.6 8 405 16.5 12 067 15.8 1 351 119 16.2 


Architecture 

446 6.6 389 4.1 2 315 4.6 3 384 4.4 457 211 5.5 

and Building 

Agriculture, 

265 3.9 191 2.0 1 251 2.5 2 009 2.6 169 039 2.0 



Health 404 6.0 526 5.5 3 755 7.4 5 884 7.7 703 163 8.4 

Education 403 6.0 531 5.5 3 539 7.0 5 499 7.2 619 099 7.4 

Management 

669 10.0 1 252 13.0 6 596 13.0 9 032 11.8 1 353 241 16.2 

and Commerce 

Society and Culture 436 6.5 797 8.3 4 560 9.0 6 501 8.5 745 453 8.9 

Creative Arts 119 1.8 138 1.4 1 088 2.1 1 526 2.0 252 743 3.0 


269 4.0 524 5.5 2 280 4.5 3 379 4.4 393 406 4.7 


Other (c) 1 968 29.3 3 178 33.1 14 617 28.8 24 061 31.5 1 871 355 22.4 

Total 6 718 100.0 9 596 100.0 50 786 100.0 76 367 100.0 8 361 814 100.0 




(c) ‘Other’ includes mixed field of education, those whose qualification was not stated, those whose qualification was inadequately described, 

and those with a qualification outside the scope of Australian Standard Classification of Education (ASCED). 

81 


82 




The Darwin region mirrored both the NT and Australia in that Engineering and Related 

Technologies was its most common area of highest qualification. 

Education and Health were also among the most common while Creative Arts and 

Information Technology were among the least. 

Bathurst-Melville was the only sub-region where Engineering and Related Technologies 

was not the most common area of qualifications. People who had qualifications in 

this sub-region were more likely to have studied Education or Health. 

3.3. Education Summary 

Darwin region is characterised by a population with a relatively high level of education. 

Since 2001, education levels in the region have increased and this should position the 

region well to take advantage of economic development opportunities. 

4. LABOUR FORCE CHARACTERISTICS 

The labour force is defined as the total number of people who are either in work, or who 

are actively seeking employment and are available to start work immediately. 

Interaction with employment and the number of people available to generate 

employment growth are important economic indicators. An increase in the number 

of people in the labour force will contribute to economic growth and lead to higher 

living standards. 

Key indicators of the labour market in this analysis include: 

Employed persons 

Unemployed persons 

Persons not in the labour force 

Unemployment rate 

Participation rate. 

Data from the 2006 Census is used to profile the labour force within the NT. Labour force 

statistics are based on the resident population considered to be of ‘working age’, that is 

people aged 15 years and over. 

4.1. Labour Force Characteristics 

Table 4.8 provides key labour force statistics for the Darwin region. 

REPORT



Table 4.8 Key Employment Statistics (2006) (a) 

Bathurst 

Darwin 


Alligator - Melville Daly City Finniss Shire – East Arm Region NT Australia 

Workforce 

Working Age Population (b) 4 128 1 494 2 370 52 946 1 552 12 016 17 113 91 619 145 291 15 918 080 

Not in the Labour Force 1 598 599 1 153 11 045 495 2 416 3 561 20 867 37 149 5 271 120 

Participation Rate (%) 46.5 54.1 41.7 68.7 49.1 68.3 67.7 66.2 62.8 60.4 

Employed 

Full-time 927 305 484 25 149 434 5 717 8 156 41 172 60 089 5 827 433 

Part-time 701 361 351 7 282 200 1 624 2 149 12 668 20 178 2 685 197 

Total (c) 1 797 749 953 35 109 692 7 976 11 151 58 427 87 179 9 104 185 

% of Working 

43.5 50.1 40.2 66.3 44.6 66.4 65.2 63.8 60.0 57.2 

Age Population 

Employed CDEP 

CDEP 671 413 428 46 41 14 14 1 627 5 365 14 500 

% of Employment 37.3 55.1 44.9 0.1 5.9 0.2 0.1 2.8 6.2 0.2 

Unemployed 

Looking for Full-time Work 87 31 26 840 49 159 265 1 457 2 718 310 581 

Looking for Part-time Work 34 29 10 438 21 73 175 780 1 286 193 221 

Total 121 60 36 1 278 70 232 440 2 237 4 004 503 802 


2.9 4.0 1.5 2.4 4.5 1.9 2.6 2.4 2.8 3.2 


Unemployment Rate (%) 6.3 7.4 3.6 3.5 9.2 2.8 3.8 3.7 4.4 5.2 

Not Stated (d) 

Not Stated 612 86 228 5 514 295 1 392 1 961 10 088 16 959 1 038 973 


14.8 5.8 9.6 10.4 19.0 11.6 11.5 11.0 11.7 6.5 



ABS Indigenous Profiles, Census 2006 


(b) Total population aged 15 years and over 

(c) Includes Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) figures and working hours not stated 

(d) Labour force status not stated. 

83 


84 




Darwin region had the lowest unemployment rate and the highest labour force 

participation rate of all NT regions. 

Within the Darwin region, Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) 

account for only 2.8% of employment. Sub-regionally, this proportion is much higher, 

with, for example, more than half (55%) of employment in Bathurst-Melville being 

through CDEP. 

The number of employed people in the region has increased by 7% since 2001, 

compared to employment growth for the NT of 4.1%. Since 2001, both unemployment, 

and the number of people not in the labour force, has decreased. 

4.2. Labour Force and Participation 

Chart 4.9 is a graphical representation of the labour force status of the population in the 

Darwin region. The percentage unemployed is the percentage of the total population 

who are aged 15 years and over, and who are unemployed, and is different to the 

unemployment rate shown in the previous table. 

Chart 4.9 Regional Labour Force Status (2006) (a) (b) 

Alligator 

Bathurst – Melville 

Daly 

Darwin City 

Finniss 

Litchfield Shire 

Palmerston – East Arm 

Darwin Region 

NT 

Australia 

44% 

40% 

45% 

50% 

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 




(c) Percentage of the total population aged 15 years and over who are unemployed 


REPORT 

60% 

57% 

66% 

65% 

64% 

2% 

3% 

39% 

49% 

49% 

25% 

66% 2% 

5% 

4% 

Employed Unemployed (c) Not in the Labour Force Not Stated (d) 

3% 

3% 

32% 

2% 

2% 

3% 

40% 

26% 

20% 

21% 

33% 

21% 

23% 

24% 

15% 

19% 

10% 

10% 

12% 

11% 

11% 

12% 

6% 

7%



Darwin City, Palmerston-East Arm and Litchfield Shire sub-regions have labour force 

participation rates above the NT average. 

Finniss sub-region has the highest proportion of unemployed people, with 5% of the 

working age population unemployed. 

Daly sub-region has the lowest proportion of people employed. 

A large proportion of people in some areas of the region are not engaging with the 

labour market. 

4.3. Labour Force Status by Age 

Chart 4.10 shows the age breakdown of the Darwin region’s labour force. 

Chart 4.10 Labour Force Status by Age, Darwin Region (2006) (a) (b) 

65 years and over 

55 – 64 years 

45 – 54 years 

35 – 44 years 

25 – 34 years 

20 – 24 years 

15 – 19 years 

15% 


0% 

42% 

58% 

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 





69% 

74% 

73% 

71% 

The Darwin region labour force participation rate follows expected patterns, with 

youth and retirement age cohorts having the lowest participation rates. 

The age group with the lowest labour force participation rate is 65 years and over, 

followed by 15-19 years and 55-64 years. 

4% 

71% 


2% 

41% 

3% 

30% 

3% 

2% 

2% 

13% 

16% 

16% 

14% 

14% 

10% 

11% 

11% 

11% 

11% 

12% 

85 


86 




4.4. Labour Force Characteristics Summary 

In 2006, there were 100 264 people of working age (15 years and over) in the Darwin 

region, which was 77% of the region’s population. Strong labour force participation 

and a low unemployment rate suggest that the region may be experiencing capacity 

constraints and labour shortages. 

However, the profile of the region suggests that there are barriers to employment in some 

areas and/or high unemployment and low labour force participation (under-utilised 

labour), which could be targeted to increase supply as the economy grows. Even with 

major tourist attractions and a strong primary industry presence in the region, many 

people still cannot find employment outside the major service centres of Darwin City and 

Palmerston-East Arm. 

5. EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY 

Employment by industry data shows the industry sectors where people are employed, 

and where employment opportunities lie within the region. The data is influenced by 

factors such as the rate of economic growth, structural change in the economy, the 

effects of technology, labour market flexibility and changes in local and global demand. 

The employment by industry groupings are as per the ABS Australian and New Zealand 

Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) codes, levels one and three. 

5.1. Regional Employment by Industry 

Table 4.11 provides a breakdown of the number of people employed by industry for the 

Darwin region, the NT and Australia. CDEP figures are provided alongside the region’s 

total figures to show the industries in which CDEP participants are employed. 

REPORT



Table 4.11 Regional Employment by Industry (2006) (a) (b) (c) 

Darwin Region NT Australia 

Industry CDEP No. % CDEP No. % % 

Public Administration and Safety 

(excluding Defence) (d) 

719 8 682 14.9 2 731 13 970 16.0 6.0 

Retail Trade 36 5 408 9.3 130 7 897 9.1 11.3 

Education and Training 69 5 064 8.7 143 7 537 8.6 7.7 

Health Care and 

Social Assistance 

392 4 994 8.5 1 171 8 580 9.8 10.5 

Construction 7 4 361 7.5 59 6 094 7.0 7.8 

Defence (d) 0 3 955 6.8 0 4 862 5.6 0.7 

Accommodation and 

Food Services 

4 3 514 6.0 7 5 644 6.5 6.3 

Professional, Scientific 

and Technical Services 

7 2 949 5.0 9 3 985 4.6 4.7 

Transport, Postal and 

Warehousing 

19 2 935 5.0 30 3 983 4.6 6.6 

Other Services (e) 17 2 664 4.6 29 3 920 4.5 10.5 

Administrative and 

Support Services 

24 2 156 3.7 97 3 136 3.6 3.7 

Manufacturing 34 1 737 3.0 80 2 628 3.0 3.1 

Arts and Recreation Services 12 1 697 2.9 9 2 144 2.5 4.4 

Wholesale Trade 26 1 249 2.1 69 1 778 2.0 1.4 

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing 0 1 092 1.9 0 1 709 2.0 1.2 

Rental, Hiring and 

Real Estate Services 

4 1 086 1.9 8 1 368 1.6 3.8 

Information Media and 

Telecommunications 

0 997 1.7 3 1 292 1.5 1.7 

Financial and Insurance Services 9 952 1.6 41 2 095 2.4 3.1 

Mining 0 927 1.6 0 1 221 1.4 1.9 

Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste 

Services 

11 382 0.7 33 524 0.6 1.0 

Not Defined (f) 236 1 617 2.8 709 2 813 3.2 2.6 

Total 1 619 58 428 100.0 5 364 87 180 100.0 100.0 





(c) CDEP and total figures should not be added together - total figures include the CDEP figures 

(d) Defence is part of the Public Administration and Safety industry; disaggregated information for 

Defence and Public Administration and Safety (excluding Defence) is from ABS unpublished data 

(e) Other Services include repairs and maintenance, personal services and private households 

(f) Not Defined includes inadequately described and not stated. 

87 


88 




Public Administration and Safety (excluding Defence) is the largest industry of 

employment in the Darwin region, accounting for 15% of employment. 

Retail Trade accounts for 9% of the workforce and is the second largest industry in 

the region. 

Within the industry base of the NT, the Darwin region has high concentrations of: 

Wholesale Trade (79% of the industry is in the region) 

Financial and Insurance Services and Rental (79%) 

Hiring and Real Estate Services (77%) 

and low concentrations of: 

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (45%) 

Health Care and Social Assistance (58%). 

This is consistent with Darwin City and Palmerston-East Arm being the major service 

centres for the NT with the largest concentration of population. Service industries such 

as finance, insurance, retail and real estate are concentrated around larger population 

bases where demand is highest. 

5.2. Disaggregated Employment by Industry 

Table 4.12 provides details of the top three industries of employment, and their 

sub-sectors, for each sub-region and Darwin region total. The major industry groupings 

are as per the ABS ANZSIC codes, level one. 

REPORT



Table 4.12 Disaggregated Employment by Industry (2006) (a) (b) (c) 

Alligator 

No. of People % of Total 

Industry 


Employed Employment 

Local Government Administration 322 17.9 

Central Government Administration 92 5.1 

State Government Administration 29 1.6 

Public Order and Safety Services 

Health Care and Social Assistance 

15 0.8 

Other Social Assistance Services 146 8.1 

Health Care and Social Assistance, nfd (d) 16 0.9 

Medical and Other Health Care Services, nfd (d) 15 0.8 

Residential Care Services 14 0.8 

Social Assistance Services, nfd (d) 

Mining 

13 0.7 

Metal Ore Mining 191 10.6 

Bathurst-Melville 


Industry 




State Government Administration 


15 2.0 



Allied Health Services 

Education and Training 

14 1.9 

School Education 62 8.3 

Daly 


Industry 





Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing 

17 1.8 

Sheep, Beef Cattle and Grain Farming 


122 12.8 


Allied Health Services 10 1.1 

Social Assistance Services, nfd (d) 10 1.1 

89 


90 




REPORT 

Darwin City 


Industry 



State Government Administration 2 983 8.5 

Defence 1 983 5.6 

Public Order and Safety Services 873 2.5 


Local Government Administration 

Retail Trade 

261 0.7 

Supermarket and Grocery Stores 763 2.2 

Clothing, Footwear and Personal Accessory Retailing 468 1.3 

Pharmaceutical and Other Store-Based Retailing 383 1.1 

Electrical and Electronic Goods Retailing 232 0.7 

Recreational Goods Retailing 


222 0.6 

Hospitals 1 038 3.0 



Child Care Services 329 0.9 

Medical Services 270 0.8 

Finniss 


Industry 



Tertiary Education 75 0.9 

School Education 


71 10.3 



Central Government Administration 

Accommodation and Food Services 

10 1.5 

Accommodation 35 5.1 

Pubs, Taverns and Bars 12 1.7 

Cafes, Restaurants and Takeaway Food Services 10 1.5





Industry 



Defence 713 8.9 





Construction 

56 0.7 

Building Installation Services 185 2.3 

Residential Building Construction 169 2.1 

Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction 112 1.4 

Building Completion Services 92 1.2 

Land Development and Site Preparation Services 

Retail Trade 

84 1.1 



Hardware, Building and Garden Supplies Retailing 71 0.9 


Fuel Retailing 49 0.6 

Palmerston-East Arm 


Industry 



Defence 1 246 11.2 





Retail Trade 

83 0.7 



Hardware, Building and Garden Supplies Retailing 112 1.0 


Department Stores 

Construction 

94 0.8 


Residential Building Construction 164 1.5 

Building Completion Services 120 1.5 


Other Construction Services 66 0.6 

91 


92 




REPORT 

Darwin Region 


Industry 




Defence 3 955 6.8 

Public Order and Safety Services 1 557 2.7 

Local Government Administration 1 299 2.2 


Retail Trade 

1 113 1.9 

Supermarket and Grocery Stores 1 256 2.1 




Motor Vehicle Retailing 


324 0.6 

School Education 3 288 5.6 

Tertiary Education 1 197 2.0 

Adult, Community and Other Education 293 0.5 

Education and Training, nfd (d) 180 0.3 

Preschool Education 72 0.1 




(c) Only the highest employment categories are shown, selected categories do not represent 

total employment 

(d) Not further defined.



In addition to the major categories above, overall the main industries of employment 

by sub-region are: 

Alligator: local government administration, social assistance services and metal 

ore mining. 

Bathurst-Melville: local government administration, social assistance services and 

school education. 

Daly: local government administration, cattle/grain farming, and social 

assistance services. 

Litchfield Shire: defence, state government administration, school education and 

public order/safety services. 

Palmerston-East Arm: defence, state government administration, school 

education and public order/safety services. 

Darwin City: state government administration, defence, school education and 

cafes/restaurants. 

Finniss: tertiary and school education, local government administration, and 

accommodation services. 

6. EMPLOYMENT BY OCCUPATION 

Employment by occupation data indicates the types of employment activities the 

workforce is engaged in and where the focus of employment is within the region. It shows 

the range of skills held by people in the region and indicates the ability of the population 

to adapt to economic and occupational changes in order to meet growth. 

The employment by occupation groupings are as per the ABS Australian and New 

Zealand Standard Classification of Occupation (ANZSCO) codes, levels one and four. 

6.1. Regional Employment by Occupation 

Table 4.13 provides a breakdown of employment by occupation for the Darwin region, NT 

and Australia. CDEP figures are provided alongside the region’s total figures to show the 

occupations in which CDEP participants are employed. 

93 


94 




Table 4.13 Regional Employment by Occupation (2006) (a) (b) (c) 


Occupation CDEP No. % CDEP No. % % 

Managers 16 7 458 12.8 50 10 542 12.1 13.2 

Professionals 124 10 918 18.7 296 15 841 18.2 19.8 

Technicians and Trades Workers 24 8 902 15.2 66 12 870 14.8 14.4 

Community and Personal 

Service Workers 

237 7 004 12.0 845 10 910 12.5 8.8 

Clerical and 

Administrative Workers 

96 9 198 15.7 239 12 672 14.5 15.0 

Sales Workers 62 4 618 7.9 192 6 437 7.4 9.8 

Machinery Operators 

and Drivers 

46 3 465 5.9 107 5 105 5.9 6.6 

Labourers 801 5 591 9.6 2 903 10 364 11.9 10.5 

Not Defined (d) 219 1 278 2.2 674 2 437 2.8 1.8 

Total 1 619 58 432 100.0 5 364 87 178 100.0 100.0 






(d) Not Defined includes inadequately described and not stated. 

The main occupations of employment in the Darwin region are: 

Professionals, with 19% of the workforce 

Clerical and Administrative Workers, with 16% of the workforce. 

This is consistent with the large public sector, defence and health industries present in 

the region. 

The main centres of the NT, Darwin City and Palmerston-East Arm sub-regions have 

the bases for many services and trades. As a result, Darwin region has large numbers 

of highly skilled workers in occupational categories such as Professionals, Associate 

Professionals, Tradespersons, Managers and Administrators. 

REPORT



6.2. Disaggregated Employment by Occupation 

Table 4.14 shows the top two occupational categories for the Darwin region and 

sub-regions, further broken down to ABS ANZSCO code, level four. 

Table 4.14 Disaggregated Employment by Occupation (2006) (a) (b) (c) 

Alligator 


Occupation 

Labourers 


Recycling and Rubbish Collectors 53 2.9 

Garden and Nursery Labourers 43 2.4 

Other Cleaners 40 2.2 

Labourers, nfd (d) 39 2.2 

Commercial Cleaners 

Professionals 

35 1.9 

Environmental Scientists 68 3.8 

Visual Arts and Crafts Professionals 28 1.6 

Primary School Teachers 23 1.3 

Registered Nurses 22 1.2 

Private Tutors and Teachers 19 1.1 

Bathurst - Melville 


Occupation 

Labourers 





Commercial Cleaners 27 3.6 

Cleaners and Laundry Workers, nfd (d) 

Community and Personal Service Workers 

12 1.6 

Indigenous Health Workers 29 3.9 

Welfare Support Workers 20 2.7 

Education Aides 17 2.3 

Bar Attendants and Baristas 14 1.9 

Aged and Disabled Carers 11 1.5 

95 


96 




REPORT 

Daly 


Occupation 

Labourers 



Livestock Farm Workers 50 5.3 

Handypersons 29 3.0 


Other Cleaners 


25 2.6 



Child Carers 14 1.5 



Darwin City 


Occupation 





Secondary School Teachers 471 1.3 

Accountants 345 1.0 

Air Transport Professionals 

Clerical and Administrative Workers 

267 0.8 

General Clerks 916 2.6 

Contract, Program and Project Administrators 623 1.8 

Receptionists 460 1.3 

Accounting Clerks 355 1.0 

Office Managers 320 0.9



Finniss 


Occupation 

Labourers 





Kitchenhands 


10 1.5 




School Teachers, nfd (d) 11 1.6 




Occupation 

Technicians and Trades Workers 


Metal Fitters and Machinists 152 1.9 

Motor Mechanics 146 1.8 

Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers 116 1.5 

Electricians 91 1.1 

Plumbers 


71 0.9 


Office Managers 112 1.4 

Bookkeepers 111 1.4 



97 


98 




REPORT 

Palmerston - East Arm 


Occupation 







Office Managers 


129 1.2 





Electronics Trades Workers 84 0.8 

Darwin Region 


Occupation 






Accountants 464 0.8 

Air Transport Professionals 


329 0.6 

General Clerks 1 590 2.7 













In addition to the major categories above, overall the main occupations of 

employment by sub-region are: 

Alligator: environmental scientists, rubbish collectors, education aides and 

garden labourers 

Bathurst-Melville: rubbish collectors, garden labourers, and visual arts and 

crafts professionals 

Daly: labourers, farm workers, education aides and primary school teachers 

Darwin City: sales assistants, general clerks, retail managers, registered nurses and 

program/project administrators 

Finniss: commercial cleaners, cooks, livestock farmers and education aides 

Litchfield Shire: defence force, general clerks, sales assistants, crop farmers and 

truck drivers 

Palmerston-East Arm: sales assistants, general clerks, defence force members, 

truck drivers and retail managers. 

7. LABOUR SUPPLY 

The labour market can be viewed in terms of supply and demand factors. By examining 

these factors it is possible to identify where a region might be vulnerable to change, or 

where it may have opportunities for development. The supply of labour can be profiled 

using information on the availabilities of both skills and jobseekers in the region. 

The following discussion focuses on: 

Supply: School Education 

Supply: Vocational Education and Training 

Supply: Apprenticeships and Traineeships 

Supply: Jobseekers 

Supply: Disability Support Pension Recipients. 

7.1. Supply: School Education9 In 2007, the Darwin region had 76% of all NT Year 12 students - 1 188 out of a total of 

1 565. The number of students in the region studying Year 12 varies from year to year, 

but the general trend is upwards. Just over 15% of the Year 12 students in the region 

were Indigenous, which compares well to the overall Indigenous population in the 

region (14%). 

Not all students who are enrolled in Year 12 are eligible to attain the Northern Territory 

Certificate of Education (NTCE) in that year. In 2007 there were 837 eligible students in 

the Darwin region achieving a pass rate of 89% and producing 742 graduates. 

9 Special Data Request, Department of Education and Training, March 2008 

99 


100 




Over the period 2005 - 2007, many students studied Health and Personal Development 

subjects with the proportion rising from 18% of all subjects in 2005 to 25% in 2007. 

Languages have also increased (marginally) over the same period but for all other 

subject areas of namely: Arts, English, Science, Mathematics, Society and Environment 

and Technology, student numbers have declined. 

7.2. Supply: Vocational Education and Training 

Vocational education and training, often called VET, is an important part of the modern 

workplace. As the world of work, and the technology that supports it, becomes 

increasingly complex, employees need higher levels of skills to be effective, and to 

contribute to economic growth and prosperity. Employees will train, retrain and continue 

to develop new and higher levels of skills throughout their lives. This ongoing learning is 

critical to the individual employee, the employer and the economy 10 . 

Note: In the following tables some students may have been double-counted. This 

will have occurred where students have enrolled in more than one course or studied 

in multiple locations in the NT. As a result, totals in this section differ between tables. 

Information about totals is contained in the notes for each table. 

The number of VET students in the Darwin region from 2003 to 2007 is shown in Table 4.15. 

Table 4.15 VET Students, Darwin Region (2003 - 2007) (a) 

REPORT 

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 

Darwin Region (a) (b) 13 689 13 665 14 314 12 886 14 420 

NT (c) 23 166 22 579 23 409 23 019 24 376 

Source: NT DET, Special Data Request, July 2008 

Note/s: (a) Based on location where student was trained 

(b) Students could be enrolled in more than one course/module and be trained in multiple locations 

within the region and the NT 

(c) Unique student identifier. 

Darwin region accounts for more than half of the VET students in the NT (55% in 2007). 

The number of students studying in the region has grown since 2003 but at a slower 

rate than the NT overall, indicating an increasing focus on training in regional NT. 

Table 4.16 shows the level of course for enrolled VET students in the Darwin region. 

10 Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations website, 

http://www.dest.gov.au/sectors/training_skills/default2.htm, accessed 12 May 2008



Table 4.16 VET Students by Level of Course (2007) (a) (b) 

Darwin Region NT 

Level of Course No. % No. % 

Advanced Diploma and Diploma 548 2.8 701 1.9 

Certificate IV 1 984 10.2 2 737 7.5 

Certificate III 5 213 26.9 7 907 21.6 

Certificate II 4 132 21.3 8 262 22.5 

Certificate I 2 983 15.4 7 650 20.9 

Other (c) 4 512 23.3 9 396 25.6 

Total 19 372 100.0 36 653 100.0 





(c) ‘Other’ includes Bridging and Enabling Courses Not Identifiable by Level, Education Not Elsewhere 

Classified, Other Non-Award Courses and Statement of Attainment Not Identifiable by Level. 

Participation in Certificate III and IV, Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses is at a 

higher rate in the Darwin region than in the NT overall. This could be attributed to the 

higher availability of training and education services in the region. 

Higher levels of study develop higher levels of skill in the workforce, which increase 

both productivity and participation and contribute to the region’s economy. 

VET participation in the Darwin region is further profiled in Table 4.17, which shows 

student numbers by field of study. The numbers show the field of education in which the 

population’s skills are being developed. Only those fields with 1% or more of the total 

student numbers are shown. 

101 


102 




Table 4.17 VET Students by Field of Study, Central Region (2007) (a) (b) 

Darwin Region NT 

Field of Study No. % No. % 

Office Studies 1 254 6.5 2 621 7.2 

Plant and Machine Operations 990 5.1 1 562 4.3 

Automotive Engineering and Technology 922 4.8 1 587 4.3 

Human Welfare Studies and Services 900 4.6 1 645 4.5 

Education 823 4.2 2 736 7.5 

Food and Hospitality 806 4.2 2 127 5.8 

Building 806 4.2 1 451 4.0 

General Education Programs 691 3.6 969 2.6 

Sport and Recreation 603 3.1 784 2.1 

Social Skills Programs 598 3.1 1 013 2.8 

Mechanical and Industrial Engineering 

and Technology 

524 2.7 958 2.6 

Occupational Health and Safety 496 2.6 1 147 3.1 

Electrical and Electronic Engineering 


487 2.5 734 2.0 

Sales and Marketing 469 2.4 704 1.9 

Horticulture and Viticulture, nfd (c) 455 2.3 804 2.2 

Employment Skills Programs 455 2.3 707 1.9 

Business and Management 433 2.2 699 1.9 

Maritime Engineering and Technology 431 2.2 473 1.3 

Other Education 416 2.1 773 2.1 

Justice and Law Enforcement 414 2.1 476 1.3 

Environmental Studies 408 2.1 864 2.4 

Health 404 2.1 1 065 2.9 

Agriculture 370 1.9 1 520 4.1 

Automotive Vehicle Operations 358 1.8 376 1.0 

Public Health 329 1.7 650 1.8 

Visual Arts and Crafts 282 1.5 859 2.3 

Manufacturing Engineering and Technology 277 1.4 316 0.9 

Other Engineering and Related Technologies 247 1.3 275 0.8 

Work Practices Programs 239 1.2 541 1.5 

Process and Resources Engineering 227 1.2 238 0.6 

Librarianship, Information Management 

and Curatorial Studies 

222 1.1 224 0.6 

Banking, Finance and Related Fields 196 1.0 326 0.9 

Performing Arts 191 1.0 539 1.5 

First Aid 191 1.0 492 1.3 



(b) Students can be enrolled in more than one course/module and be trained in multiple locations 


(c) Not further defined. 

REPORT



Office Studies, Plant and Machine Operations and Automotive Engineering 

and Technology were the three most commonly studied fields in the Darwin region 

during 2007. 

There is a general link between the more popular areas of study and occupations 

in demand. For example, Plant and Machine Operations and Automotive and 

Engineering (Mechanical and Electrical). 

Within the main fields of study, the main courses undertaken in the Darwin region are: 

Certificate I in Access to Employment and Further Study 

Certificate IV in Training and Assessment 

Certificate II in Business 

Certificate I in Introductory Vocational Education. 

7.3. Supply: Apprenticeships and Traineeships 

Apprenticeships/traineeships offer opportunities for anyone of working age to train, study 

and earn an income in a wide range of occupations and trades. They are available in 

more than 500 occupations and provide nationally recognised training, developed by 

industry for industry. 

Apprenticeship/traineeship statistics for the Darwin region are presented in Chart 4.18. 

The in training numbers are for 31 December each year and the commencements are 

total numbers for each calendar year, 2002 - 2007. 

Chart 4.18 Apprenticeships and Traineeships, Darwin Region (2002 - 2007) 

2 500 

2 000 

1 500 

1 000 

500 

0 

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 

Source: NT DET, Special Data Request, March 2008 

Note/s: (a) Includes recommencements. 

In Training Commencements (a) 

103 


104 




There were 1 782 apprentice/trainee commencements in the Darwin region in 2007, 

which is an increase of 25% from 1 421 in 2002. 

The Darwin region accounted for 63% of total commencements in the NT for 2007, a 

similar proportion as five years ago (62%). 

The number of students in training has increased steadily over the last five years, 

growing by an average of 7% per annum. 

In 2007, 2 145 apprentices/trainees were in training in the Darwin region. Of these: 

19% were in business and clerical areas 

16% were in utilities 

11% were in automotive 

10% were in building and construction. 

Many of the qualifications in these areas are linked to skill shortages in the region. 

Commencements and the number of students in training in the region have 

increased over the past five years. Apprenticeships particularly, often take a number 

of years to complete and the large number of students in training suggests that 

supply of skills will begin to increase in the coming years. 

7.4. Supply: Jobseekers 

The number of jobseekers in the Darwin region, and the NT that are receiving 

unemployment benefits from Centrelink is shown in Chart 4.19. 

Chart 4.19 Jobseekers, Darwin Region and NT (2004 - 2007) (a) (b) 

6 500 

6 000 

5 500 

5 000 

4 500 

4 000 

3 500 

3 000 

2 300 

2 000 3 593 

Dec 04 

Mar 05 Jun 05 Sep 05 Dec 05 Mar 06 Jun 06 Sep 06 Dec 06 Mar 07 Jun 07 Sep 07 Dec 07 

(c) 

Source: DEEWR, Special Data Request, March 2008 

Darwin Region LHS NT RHS 

Note/s: (a) Region is based on postcode mapped to ABS regions. Data is an approximation only 

(b) Jobseekers are derived from Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance (other) recipients by excluding 

all people who did not receive a payment due to their own and/or their partner’s income, or where 

applicable, parental income, and all those known not to be required to search for work 

(c) The increase in December 2007 is due to CDEP eligibility changes and the lifting of Remote 

Area Exemptions (RAE). 

REPORT 

11 593 

10 593 

9 593 

8 593 

7 593 

6 593 

5 593 

4 593



There was a large increase in jobseeker numbers in the NT and its regions in 

December 2007. This was due to CDEP eligibility changes and the lifting of Remote 


Before the impact of the changes in CDEP eligibility and the lifting of RAEs, 

unemployed jobseekers had started to trend down in the region and fell by 11% from 

September 2005 to September 2007. For the same period, unemployed jobseeker 

numbers in the NT rose by 9%. 

Further information on Indigenous employment and CDEP can be found in Chapter 5 

Indigenous Employment Profile. 

Table 4.20 shows the characteristics of the jobseeker population. 

Table 4.20 Jobseeker Characteristics (September 2007) (a) (b) (c) (d) 


Duration 

Short-term 1 006 1 766 130 292 

Long-term 1 541 3 668 170 398 

Total 2 547 5 434 300 690 

% Long-term 

Indigenous Status (%) 

60.5 67.5 56.7 

Indigenous 59.4 75.6 10.6 

Non-Indigenous 

Gender (%) 

40.6 24.4 89.4 

Male 62.0 59.3 61.8 

Female 

Age (%) 

38.0 40.7 38.2 

15-19 10.8 10.2 12.3 

20-24 16.4 16.0 17.1 

25-44 48.3 52.1 41.1 

45+ 24.5 21.7 29.5 






(c) It is optional for customers to identify as Indigenous; therefore these Indigenous indicator data may 

represent an undercount. Consequently, this limitation should be considered in any application or use 

of these data 

(d) Short-term income support duration is defined as less than 365 days, while long-term income support 

duration is defined as 365 days or more. 

In the Darwin region, approximately 14% of the population is Indigenous, however, this 

cohort accounts for nearly 60% of the jobseekers in the region. 

61% of jobseekers in the region were classified as long-term, that is, in receipt of 

benefits for a year or more. This compares to 68% for the NT and 57% for Australia. 

105 


106 




68% of the long-term jobseekers in the region are Indigenous. 

Over the two years to September 2007, there has been a downward trend in both 

long-term and short-term jobseeker numbers in the region. 

7.5. Supply: Disability Support Pension Recipients11 Many people with disabilities who are registered with Centrelink to receive the Disability 

Support Pension (DSP) have work skills. Individuals may find training or opportunities that 

will allow them to enter paid employment where their disability can be accommodated. 

In December 2007, there were 3 626 DSP recipients in the region - 56% of the NT total. 

DSP recipients increased by an average of 2.2% per annum over the period 

December 2004 to 2007, the lowest rate of increase for all regions in the NT. 

Recipients of DSP, who are able to work, require support and flexible working 

arrangements to enable them to engage effectively with the labour market. The 

Darwin region has similar numbers of DSP recipients and Jobseekers, both of which 

could provide a source of labour for the region. 

Further information about DSP recipients can be found in Chapter 6 Disadvantaged 

Groups Employment Profile. 

7.6. Labour Supply Summary 

The Darwin region is characterised by a relatively highly-qualified population. There is 

a clear link between school education levels, engagement with the labour market and 

further education and training. This is illustrated in those sub-regions where a base level of 

education has been established in their population, be it Year 12 or Year 10. These base 

levels of education have been used as a springboard and have led to higher levels of 

qualifications and employment in those sub-regions. An example of this is the Bathurst- 

Melville sub-region, which has a relatively high proportion of people achieving Year 10 

or above. This sub-region also has a largely Indigenous population, with a relatively high 

level of engagement with the labour market and non-school education. 

As unemployment, and the supply of readily available labour decrease in the region, the 

growing demand for skills at all levels must be met by groups such as: 

Short-term unemployed - the region has a relatively high proportion of short-term 

unemployed jobseekers compared to other regions in the NT. 

Indigenous jobseekers - there was an 11% increase in numbers over the two years to 

September 2007, compared to a decrease of 31% for non-Indigenous jobseekers in 

the same period. 

DSP recipients - an increasing number available, similar proportions to jobseekers. 

Rural jobseekers - who have much lower labour force participation and jobseeker 

rates than those in Darwin City and Palmerston-East Arm. 

Mature age jobseekers - there is strong population growth and low labour force 

participation among people aged over 55 years. 

11 Special Data Request, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, January 2008 

REPORT



CDEP - many workers are engaged in CDEP who could be converted to mainstream 

employment. 

8. LABOUR DEMAND 

Labour markets function through the interaction of workers and employers. Labour 

market economics attempts to understand the pattern of employment through an 

examination of the suppliers of labour services (workers) and the demanders of labour 

services (employers). 

Regional labour markets in the NT are small and concentrated in certain sectors. 

Employers in mining, infrastructure and other projects often are unable to find sufficient 

numbers of local workers with the required skills, in the region, and often there is a 

long lead-time for training new workers. By concentrating on, and understanding, the 

underlying, more stable economy, people living in the region can be trained to meet 

demand for longer-term jobs that underpin economic development. 

Labour demand in the Darwin region is profiled using the following indicators: 

Demand: Skills Profile 

Demand: Job Advertisements. 

8.1. Demand: Skills Profi le 

The Darwin region occupation and industry profiles show the types of skills that were in 

the region’s workforce at the time of the 2006 Census. From this, occupations can be 

cross-referenced with the NT Occupation Shortage List 12 to give an indication of the 

occupations in shortage in the Darwin region. 

The occupation and industry make-up of the Darwin region indicates which occupations 

are difficult to recruit to, or are subject to shortages. They are: 

Registered Nurses Electricians 

Primary School Teachers Aged and Disabled Carers 

Child Carers Waiters 

Secondary School Teachers Cooks 

Welfare Support Workers Accountants 

A more detailed discussion of skill shortage occupations can be found in Chapter 7 Skill 

Shortages and Labour Demand. 

Table 4.21 provides more detailed information on skill shortages by industry for the Darwin 

region. Part 1 shows the relative size of each industry (by employment) and Part 2 shows 

the highest industries of employment and lists the occupations experiencing recruitment 

difficulty, or shortage, for each industry. 

12 NT Occupation Shortage List 2008, Department of Business and Employment, March 2008 

107 


108 




Table 4.21 Skill Shortages by Selected Industry, Darwin Region (2008) (a) (b) (c) 

Part 1 

Total Employed % Employment 

Industry 

in Industry in Region 

Public Administration and Safety (excluding Defence) 8 682 14.9 

Retail Trade 5 408 9.3 

Education and Training 5 064 8.7 

Health Care and Social Assistance 4 994 8.5 

Construction 4 361 7.5 

Part 2 

Industry Occupation in Shortage 

Public Administration and Safety Welfare Support Workers 

(excluding Defence) 

Registered Nurses 

Human Resource Professionals 

Accountants 

Aged and Disabled Carers 

Gardeners (Irrigation Installers) 

Child Carers 

Database/Systems Administrators, and ICT Security Specialists 

Retail Trade Motor Mechanics 

Butchers and Smallgoods Makers 

Bakers and Pastrycooks 

Pharmacists 

Cooks 

Education and Training Primary School Teachers 

Secondary School Teachers 

Special Education Teachers 

Child Carers 

Vocational Education Teachers 

Health Care and Social Assistance Registered Nurses 

Child Carers 


Generalist Medical Practitioners 

Welfare Support Workers 

Indigenous Health Workers 

Midwives 

Dental Assistants 

Child Care Centre Managers 

Cooks 

Physiotherapists 

REPORT



Table 4.21 Skill Shortages by Selected Industry, Darwin Region (2008) (a) (b) (c) 

(continued) 

Part 2 


Health Care and Social Assistance Social Workers 

Medical Imaging Professionals 

Dental Practitioners 

Construction Electricians 

Carpenters and Joiners 

Plumbers 

Painting Trades Workers 

Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers 

Earthmoving Plant Operators 

Concreters 

Plasterers 

Architectural, Building and Surveying Technicians 

Wall and Floor Tilers 

Bricklayers and Stonemasons 

Structural Steel Construction Workers 

Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics 



DBE, NT Occupational Shortage List 2008 




total employment. 

8.2. Demand: Job Advertisements 

The number of jobs advertised shows which skills are needed and where shortages 

exist, and is a leading indicator for employment and economic growth. If job 

vacancies decline, this generally means that employment levels will begin to decline 

shortly afterwards. 

Employers use many different methods to recruit employees and strategies vary across 

regions and industries. The increasing use of internet job boards has enabled the 

collection of information about job vacancies in regions across NT (noting that this is not 

a complete profile). 

Internet and newspaper vacancies for the NT are registered on the Australian JobSearch 

(JobSearch) website (www.jobsearch.gov.au ) and provide an indication of employment 

demand in the region 13 . In the year to July 2007, more than 9 500 jobs were advertised on 

JobSearch for Darwin, while annual job advertisements in the region have fallen by 11% 

since 2005/06. 

13 Employers do not necessarily register vacancies through the JobSearch website or affiliated newspapers, so not all 

vacancies will appear in these figures. The full extent of coverage is not known and any figures should be used with caution. 

109 


110 




Information from JobSearch is not available for the whole Darwin region. It should be 

noted that in this section only, areas outside of Darwin are not included. 

Table 4.22 provides information from the JobSearch website. Only those occupations, 

which account for 1% or more of the total number of advertised jobs are shown. 

Table 4.22 JobSearch Vacancy List, Darwin (2006/07) 

Occupation Advertisements % of Total 

Public Servants 1 560 16.1 

General Labourers 1 188 12.2 

Cleaners 454 4.7 

Sales Assistants 410 4.2 

Storepersons 355 3.7 

Truck Drivers 354 3.7 


Sales Representatives 255 2.6 

Kitchenhands 223 2.3 

Office Assistants and Office Managers 217 2.2 

Delivery Drivers 183 1.9 

Boilermakers and Welders 175 1.8 

Waiters 165 1.7 


Customer Service Managers 109 1.1 

Farm Hands 104 1.1 

Security Officers and Guards 103 1.1 


General and Landscape Gardeners 95 1.0 

Cooks 93 1.0 

Source: DEEWR, Special Data Request, 2008. 

Many of the occupations listed are currently identified as being in short supply in the 

NT and nationally. 

Of the jobs advertised: 

18% were labourers, factory and machine workers 

16% were in government and defence 

10% were sales assistants and store persons 

9% were clerks, receptionists and secretaries 

8% were in food, hospitality and tourism. 

REPORT



8.3. Labour Demand Summary 

Employment in the Darwin region has been growing at nearly double the rate of the 

NT over the five years to 2006. Excluding this region, employment in the NT has actually 

declined over this period. 

Government, construction and mining have seen the highest rates of growth while the 

largest increase in the number of jobs has been in government, construction, education 

and health. These industries all have a high proportion of professional and trade 

qualified workers. 

Skill shortages are evident across a large range of occupations in the region’s major 

industries. Professional and trade qualifications in short supply across education, health, 

mining and construction. Concentrated and sustained employment growth has put 

pressure on the region’s ability to supply workers with the skills needed. 

This suggests that shortages and constraints within the region are a result of demand 

growing faster than supply, as opposed to any structural issues with training provision. 

Many qualifications take several years to complete and increasing the capacity of the 

training system to deliver further qualifications has become necessary. The education 

industry has had one of the strongest growth rates in the region and is consequently 

suffering from skill shortages itself. 

Demand for workers is strong and continues to grow in the NT. As identified earlier, there 

has been a strong decline in some groups of jobseekers in the region, leaving a large 

cohort of the population who are looking for work but have barriers to overcome before 

they can actively engage with the workforce. 

While the region has skill shortages, there are opportunities for entry-level and semi-skilled 

jobs such as labourers, cleaners, clerks, and sales assistants. 

111 


112 



Northern Territory Regional Profi les - East Arnhem Region 



This regional snapshot provides information on the economic background of the East 

Arnhem region, including information on the cost of living. 

A map showing the breakdown of the East Arnhem region into its sub-regions, towns 

and communities is shown below in Figure 4.23. The East Arnhem region is split into three 

sub-regions; East Arnhem Balance, Groote Eylandt and Nhulunbuy. 


EAST ARNHEM REGION 

Milingimbi 

Ramingining 

Galiwinku 

EAST ARNHEM – BAL 

REPORT 

Gapuwiyak 

Numbulwar 

Angurugu 

Gunyangara 

Alyangula 

NHULUNBUY 

Yirrkala 

Umbakumba 

GROOTE 

EYLANDT



The East Arnhem region accounts for 8% of the Northern Territory (NT) population. 

Nhulunbuy is the major service centre for the region. 

Road infrastructure in the region is different to the rest of the NT. Wet season rainfall cuts 

off road access for parts of the year, increasing transport costs. 

Major industries in the region include mining, minerals manufacturing and government 

services such as health and education. 1 

1.1. Cost of Living 

In December 2007, grocery prices in the region were the most expensive in the NT. At 

an average of 8% per annum since December 2005, the region has the highest annual 

growth in grocery prices in the NT. 

Despite a lack of information about the overall cost of living in the region, the remoteness 

of the major towns, a shortage of housing and the long-term growth in the price of fuel 

and groceries suggests that the cost of operating a business or transporting goods would 

be a major barrier to economic and workforce development in the region. 

2. POPULATION 




This section profiles the characteristics of the population in the East Arnhem region and 







rates for the East Arnhem region over the period 1997 - 2007. The ERP figures are 

calculated by adjusting usual resident population figures from the 2006 Census for 

births, deaths and migration. This means that ERP totals will differ from the Census figures 

provided in the rest of the chapter. 

1 Budget 2008-09, Budget Paper, Regional Highlights, East Arnhem, Northern Territory Treasury, May 2008 

113 


114 





East Arnhem 

Balance 


Groote 

Eylandt Nhulunbuy 

REPORT 

East Arnhem 

Region NT Australia 

1997 6 609 2 731 3 805 13 145 186 912 18 517 564 

2002 7 713 2 642 3 886 14 241 199 442 19 652 562 

2006 8 809 2 693 4 433 15 935 210 674 20 701 488 

2007 8 958 2 774 4 498 16 230 214 975 21 017 222 


1997 - 2007 

(10 years) 

3.1 0.2 1.7 2.1 1.4 1.3 

2002 - 2007 

(5 years) 

3.0 1.0 3.0 2.6 1.5 1.4 

2006 - 2007 1.7 3.0 1.5 1.9 2.0 1.5 


% Population 55.2 17.1 27.7 100.0 N/A N/A 



Note/s: (a) Based on estimated resident population. 

East Arnhem region accounts for 8% of the NT’s population with 72% of the region’s 

population residing outside the major centre of Nhulunbuy. 

The population of the region increased by an average 2.1% per annum over the ten 

years from 1997 - 2007, compared with 1.4% per annum for the NT. Over the last five 

years growth has increased at an average of 2.6% per annum. This means that the 

region has increased its share of the NT population from 7.0% in 1997 to 7.5% in 2007. 

Over the last ten years, population growth in East Arnhem Balance sub-region has 

averaged 3.1% per annum, more than double the NT rate. Consequently, this 

sub-region now accounts for 55% of the region’s population, up from 50% in 1997. 


The population statistics in the following sections are based on the ABS Census, place of 

usual residence. These are actual counts of population from the Census and differ from 

the ERP figures provided earlier. 

Table 4.25 provides general population statistics and characteristics for the East 

Arnhem region.




East 

Arnhem 

Balance 

Groote 


East 

Arnhem 


Age 

Median Age 

Gender (No.) 

24 26 33 27 31 37 

Male 3 726 1 184 2 321 7 231 99 370 9 799 250 

Female 

Gender (%) 

3 757 1 168 1 792 6 717 93 528 10 056 038 

Male 49.8 50.3 56.4 51.8 51.5 49.4 

Female 

Indigenous 

50.2 49.7 43.6 48.2 48.5 50.6 

Number 6 883 1 436 234 8 553 53 665 455 018 

Proportion (%) (b) 92.0 61.1 5.7 61.3 27.8 2.3 




(b) People identified as Indigenous as a proportion of each area’s population. 

There are more males than females in both the East Arnhem region and the NT. Of 

the three sub-regions, only East Arnhem Balance has a higher proportion of females 

than males. 

The median age of the population varies across the sub-regions. Nhulunbuy has an 

older population with a median age of 33 while in the more remote East Arnhem 

Balance the median age is 24 years. 

The median age of the population in the East Arnhem region was 27 in 2006, 

compared to 25 in 2001. 

Nearly 16% of the Territory’s Indigenous population resides in the region, compared to 

only 3.9% of the non-Indigenous population. Most (81%) of the Indigenous population 

reside in East Arnhem Balance. 

115 


116 





Table 4.26 provides a detailed age breakdown of the East Arnhem region, its sub-regions, 

the NT and Australia. 


East Arnhem Balance Groote Eylandt Nhulunbuy 

Age No. % No. % No. % 

0-14 2 354 31.5 732 31.1 1 079 26.2 

15-24 1 452 19.4 372 15.8 432 10.5 

25-34 1 342 17.9 417 17.7 713 17.3 

35-44 999 13.4 388 16.5 836 20.3 

45-54 772 10.3 278 11.8 690 16.8 

55-64 380 5.1 118 5.0 327 8.0 

65+ 184 2.5 47 2.0 36 0.9 

Total 7 483 100.0 2 352 100.0 4 113 100.0 

East Arnhem Region NT Australia 


0-14 4 165 29.9 47 607 24.7 3 937 210 19.8 

15-24 2 256 16.2 29 367 15.2 2 704 266 13.6 

25-34 2 472 17.7 32 057 16.6 2 676 394 13.5 

35-44 2 223 15.9 31 156 16.2 2 937 845 14.8 

45-54 1 740 12.5 26 478 13.7 2 762 521 13.9 

55-64 825 5.9 16 953 8.8 2 192 680 11.0 

65+ 267 1.9 9 283 4.8 2 644 371 13.3 

Total 13 948 100.0 192 901 100.0 19 855 287 100.0 



East Arnhem region has a higher concentration of younger people than the NT 

overall. 30% of the population in the region is aged 15 years and under, compared to 

25% for the NT and 20% for Australia. 

REPORT



Chart 4.27 is a graphical representation of the region’s age distribution compared 

to that of the NT. 


12% 

10% 


8% 

6% 



Even though the region has a younger age profile than the NT, the overall shape of 

the population pyramid is similar to that of the NT - notwithstanding its much higher 

proportion of youth. 


4% 

% Population 

2% 

85 + 

80-84 

75-79 

70-74 

65-69 

60-64 

55-59 

50-54 

45-49 

40-44 

35-39 

30-34 

25-29 

20-24 

15-19 

10-14 

5-9 

0-4 

0% 0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 

The East Arnhem region has experienced strong population growth over the last ten 

years. From 1997 to 2007, the region grew at an average of 2.1% per year, compared to 

growth of 1.4% per annum for the NT over the same period. 

The region has a young population, with a median age of 27, compared to 31 in the NT. 

NT 

% Population 

117 


118 




3. EDUCATION 






This section provides an educational profile of the East Arnhem region’s population and 








Table 4.28 provides an education profile of the East Arnhem region, its sub-regions, the NT 

and Australia. The information is based on the highest level of schooling completed, and 

the highest level of non-school education completed. 



No. % No. % No. % 

School 

Other (c) 961 18.8 250 15.4 483 15.9 

Did Not Attend School 257 5.0 244 15.0 14 0.5 

Below Year 10 2 570 50.2 306 18.8 164 5.4 

Year 10 619 12.1 277 17.0 747 24.6 

Year 11 225 4.4 166 10.2 417 13.7 

Year 12 488 9.5 382 23.5 1 211 39.9 

Total 

Non-School 

5 120 100.0 1 625 100.0 3 036 100.0 

Higher Education (d) 267 5.2 170 10.5 609 20.1 

Certificate 307 6.0 196 12.1 874 28.8 

Other (e) 4 546 88.8 1 259 77.5 1 553 51.2 

Total 5 120 100.0 1 625 100.0 3 036 100.0 

REPORT




(continued) 


No. % No. % No. % 

School 

Other (c) 1 694 17.3 26 051 17.9 2 195 961 13.8 

Did Not Attend School 515 5.3 3 154 2.2 137 674 0.9 

Below Year 10 3 040 31.1 23 761 16.4 2 084 710 13.1 

Year 10 1 643 16.8 27 039 18.6 3 437 859 21.6 

Year 11 808 8.3 17 033 11.7 1 404 740 8.8 

Year 12 2 081 21.3 48 257 33.2 6 657 136 41.8 

Total 

Non-School 

9 781 100.0 145 295 100.0 15 918 080 100.0 

Higher Education (d) 1 046 10.7 26 456 18.2 3 612 776 22.7 

Certificate 1 377 14.1 25 018 17.2 2 662 780 16.7 

Other (e) 7 358 75.2 93 821 64.6 9 642 524 60.6 

Total 9 781 100.0 145 295 100.0 15 918 080 100.0 





(d) Higher Education includes Postgraduate Degree, Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate, 

Bachelor Degree, Advanced Diploma and Diploma qualification levels 

(e) ‘Other’ includes persons who do not have a qualification, those whose qualification was not stated, 

those whose qualification was inadequately described, and those with a qualification outside the 

scope of Australian Standard Classification of Education (ASCED). 

The East Arnhem region has relatively low levels of education with 31% of people in 

the region not completing Year 10. The comparable figures for the NT and Australia 

are 16% and 13% respectively. 

The region also has smaller proportions of people with higher education qualifications 

than the NT and Australia. 

Education levels vary widely over sub-regions. In Nhulunbuy 40% of the population 

have achieved Year 12 education, compared to 10% in the East Arnhem Balance 

sub-region. 

A quarter of the population in the region has a certificate or higher level non-school 

qualification. The majority of these are Certificate III qualifications (42%), followed by 

Bachelor Degrees (21%). 


The proportion of the population which had completed Year 12 increased from 

18% in 2001 to 21% in 2006 


increased by 44% and 21% respectively, over the same period. 

119 


120 






East Arnhem region, its sub-regions, the NT and Australia. These figures are categorised by 

the ABS Australian Standard Classification of Education (ASCED). 



Field of Study No. % No. % No. % 

Natural and Physical 

Sciences 

6 0.4 16 2.4 35 1.8 

Information Technology 10 0.7 3 0.5 10 0.5 

Engineering and Related 

Technologies 

83 5.7 141 21.3 597 30.5 

Architecture 

and Building 

45 3.1 15 2.3 112 5.7 

Agriculture, Environmental 

and Related Studies 

17 1.2 11 1.7 40 2.0 

Health 82 5.6 37 5.6 163 8.3 

Education 149 10.2 41 6.2 123 6.3 

Management 

and Commerce 

72 4.9 42 6.3 214 10.9 

Society and Culture 83 5.7 39 5.9 101 5.2 

Creative Arts 9 0.6 0 0.0 20 1.0 

Food, Hospitality and 

Personal Services 

17 1.2 20 3.0 81 4.1 

Other (c) 888 60.8 298 44.9 459 23.5 

Total 1 461 100.0 663 100.0 1 955 100.0 

REPORT




(continued) 


No. % No. % No. % 

Natural and Physical 

Sciences 

55 1.3 1 644 2.2 225 008 2.7 

Information Technology 24 0.6 1 381 1.8 220 977 2.6 


Technologies 

816 20.0 12 067 15.8 1 351 119 16.2 

Architecture and Building 171 4.2 3 384 4.4 457 211 5.5 



64 1.6 2 009 2.6 169 039 2.0 

Health 274 6.7 5 884 7.7 703 163 8.4 

Education 322 7.9 5 499 7.2 619 099 7.4 

Management 

and Commerce 

327 8.0 9 032 11.8 1 353 241 16.2 

Society and Culture 227 5.6 6 501 8.5 745 453 8.9 

Creative Arts 30 0.7 1 526 2.0 252 743 3.0 



119 2.9 3 379 4.4 393 406 4.7 

Other (c) 1 647 40.4 24 061 31.5 1 871 355 22.4 

Total 4 076 100.0 76 367 100.0 8 361 814 100.0 




(c) ‘Other’ includes mixed field of education, those whose qualification was not stated, those whose 

qualification was inadequately described, and those with a qualification outside the scope of 

Australian Standard Classification of Education (ASCED). 

The East Arnhem region mirrored both the NT and Australia in that Engineering and 

Related Technologies was its most common area of highest qualification. 

Education along with Management and Commerce were among the most common 

while Information Technology and Creative Arts were among the least. 

East Arnhem Balance was the only sub-region where Engineering and Related 

Technologies was not the most common area of qualifications. People who had 

qualifications in this sub-region were more likely to have studied Education. 


The East Arnhem region’s population has a lower level of education than that of the rest 

of the NT. Education levels vary significantly across sub-regions, with areas outside major 

service and employment centres having lower education levels. 

Since 2001, education levels in the region have increased, which should enable the 

region to be more productive and increase its engagement with the labour market. 

However, there is still significant disparity between both schooling and further education 

levels when compared to the NT overall. 

121 


122 





















Table 4.30 provides key labour force statistics for the East Arnhem region. 

REPORT




East 

Arnhem 

Balance 

Groote 


East 

Arnhem 


Workforce 

Working Age Population (b) 5 119 1 627 3 035 9 783 145 291 15 918 080 

Not in the Labour Force 2 344 655 293 3 299 37 149 5 271 120 

Participation Rate (%) 

Employed 

39.9 46.7 79.5 53.3 62.8 60.4 

Full-time 652 455 1 821 2 925 60 089 5 827 433 

Part-time 798 228 365 1 383 20 178 2 685 197 

Total (c) 1 682 740 2 379 4 799 87 179 9 104 185 

% of Working Age 

Population 

Employed CDEP 

32.9 45.5 78.4 49.1 60.0 57.2 

CDEP 952 167 4 1 122 5 365 14 500 

% of Employment 

Unemployed 

56.6 22.6 0.2 23.4 6.2 0.2 

Looking for Full-time Work 325 9 17 352 2 718 310 581 

Looking for Part-time Work 37 10 16 61 1 286 193 221 

Total 362 19 33 413 4 004 503 802 


Population 

7.1 1.2 1.1 4.2 2.8 3.2 

Unemployment Rate (%) 


17.7 2.5 1.4 7.9 4.4 5.2 

Not Stated 731 213 330 1 272 16 959 1 038 973 


Population 

14.3 13.1 10.9 13.0 11.7 6.5 







The East Arnhem region has the highest unemployment rate of all NT regions, and the 

second lowest labour force participation rate. 

The participation rate for the East Arnhem Balance sub-region is much lower than 

that of the NT, with only 40% of the population engaged with the labour market 

compared to 63% for the NT. 

East Arnhem Balance has lower labour force outcomes than the rest of the region 

and a reliance on Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) (57% of 

employment) to provide labour market engagement. 

123 


124 




The number of employed people in the region has increased by 14% over the 2001 

- 2006 period, compared to employment growth for the NT of 3.9%. Unemployment 

in the region has also grown in the period, from a 4.4% unemployment rate in 2001 

to 7.9% in 2006. The increase in the number of employed people and the number of 

people looking for work is positive and has raised the participation rate to 53% from 

49% in 2001. 


Chart 4.31 is a graphical representation of the labour force status of the population in 

the East Arnhem region. The percentage unemployed is the percentage of the total 

population who are aged 15 years and over, and who are unemployed, and is different 

to the unemployment rate shown in the previous table. 


East Arnhem Balance 

Groote Eylandt 

Nhulunbuy 


NT 

Australia 

33% 

45% 

49% 

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 






Nhulunbuy sub-region has strong labour market participation when compared to the 

NT. Other sub-regions have relatively low participation rates. 

A large proportion of the population in some areas of the region are not engaging 

with the labour market. 

REPORT 

60% 

7% 

78% 

1% 

46% 

57% 3% 

33% 

7% 

40% 

1% 

10% 

14% 

13% 

4% 34% 

13% 


3% 

26% 

11% 

12%




Chart 4.32 shows the age breakdown of the East Arnhem region’s labour force. 

Chart 4.32 Labour Force Status by Age, East Arnhem Region (2006) (a) (b) 


55 – 64 years 

45 – 54 years 

35 – 44 years 

25 – 34 years 

20 – 24 years 

15 – 19 years 

21% 

22% 

40% 






The East Arnhem region labour force participation rate follows expected patterns, 

with youth and retirement age cohorts having the lowest participation rates. 

Compared to the NT, East Arnhem region has lower participation rates in all age 

groups except people aged 65 and over. 

The region’s youth (15-24 year olds), has a participation rate of 37% and an 

unemployment rate of 16% compared to NT youth with a 55% participation rate and 

an unemployment rate of 8%. 


5% 

49% 

4% 

56% 

62% 

58% 

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 

In 2006, there were 11 271 people of working age (15 years and older) in the East Arnhem 

region, accounting for 71% of the region’s population. This proportion increased from 67% 

in 1996. It is positive for the region that, as the working age population has increased, so 

has the level of employment. 

Even though labour market participation has increased since 2001, employment 

outside the major centres is low and there is high unemployment, especially in the 

younger population. 

8% 

59% 

5% 


2% 

3% 

2% 

59% 

29% 

22% 

27% 

32% 

40% 

14% 

13% 

13% 

12% 

14% 

13% 

14% 

125 


126 












Table 4.33 provides a breakdown of the number of people employed by industry for 

the East Arnhem region, the NT and Australia. CDEP figures are provided alongside the 

region’s total figures to show the industries in which CDEP participants are employed. 






606 1 074 22.4 2 731 13 970 16.0 6.0 

Manufacturing 4 723 15.1 29 3 920 4.5 10.5 



230 519 10.8 1 171 8 580 9.8 10.5 

Construction 12 415 8.6 59 6 094 7.0 7.8 

Education and Training 16 360 7.5 143 7 537 8.6 7.7 

Mining 0 339 7.1 0 1 709 2.0 1.2 

Retail Trade 13 242 5.0 130 7 897 9.1 11.3 


Food Services 

0 182 3.8 7 5 644 6.5 6.3 


Warehousing 

0 150 3.1 9 3 985 4.6 4.7 



11 125 2.6 80 2 628 3.0 3.1 

Other Services (e) 22 96 2.0 97 3 136 3.6 3.7 



7 70 1.5 30 3 983 4.6 6.6 

Arts and Recreation Services 9 28 0.6 69 1 778 2.0 1.4 




0 26 0.5 0 1 221 1.4 1.9 

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing 8 23 0.5 41 2 095 2.4 3.1 

REPORT



Table 4.33 Regional Employment by Industry (2006) (a) (b) (c) (continued) 



Electricity, Gas, Water 

and Waste Services 

12 22 0.5 33 524 0.6 1.0 

Wholesale Trade 0 20 0.4 9 2 144 2.5 4.4 



0 19 0.4 3 1 292 1.5 1.7 

Defence (d) 0 14 0.3 0 4 862 5.6 0.7 

Not Defined (f) 172 327 6.8 709 2 813 3.2 2.6 

Total 1 123 4 801 100.0 5 364 87 180 100.0 100.0 










Public Administration and Safety (excluding Defence) is the largest industry in the East 

Arnhem region accounting for 22% of employment. Much of this (56%) is attributable 

to CDEP. 

Manufacturing accounts for 15% of the workforce and is the second largest industry 

in the region. 

The region accounts for 5.5% of employment in the NT. Within the industry base 

of the NT, the East Arnhem region has a high proportion of workers in Mining (20% 

of employed persons in the NT who work in this industry are in the East Arnhem 

region) and a low proportion of workers in Wholesale Trade (0.9% of the industry is 

in the region). 


Table 4.34 provides details of the top three industries of employment, and their subsectors, 

for each sub-region and East Arnhem region total. The major industry groupings 


127 


128 





REPORT 



Industry 






Defence 


11 0.7 





Hospitals 


11 0.7 







Industry 

Mining 



Mining, nfd (d) 


18 2.4 




Public Administration, nfd (d) 


3 0.4 





Child Care Services 6 0.8



Nhulunbuy 


Industry 

Manufacturing 


Basic Non-Ferrous Metal Manufacturing 659 27.7 

Manufacturing, nfd (d) 

Construction 

18 0.8 


Non-Residential Building Construction 84 3.5 


Construction, nfd (d) 28 1.2 

Residential Building Construction 


26 1.1 







Industry 







Manufacturing 

40 0.8 

Basic Non-Ferrous Metal Manufacturing 


664 13.8 


Hospitals 80 1.7 









(d) Not further defined. 

129 


130 






East Arnhem Balance: local government administration, social assistance services 

and school education 

Groote Eylandt: metal ore mining, local government administration and social 

assistance services 

Nhulunbuy: metal manufacturing, school education and building 

installation services. 









Table 4.35 provides a breakdown of employment by occupation for the East Arnhem 

region, NT and Australia. CDEP figures are provided alongside the region’s total figures to 

show the occupations in which CDEP participants are employed. 




Managers 14 326 6.8 50 10 542 12.1 13.2 

Professionals 57 689 14.4 296 15 841 18.2 19.8 

Technicians and Trades Workers 13 764 15.9 66 12 870 14.8 14.4 



171 501 10.4 845 10 910 12.5 8.8 

Clerical and 


47 483 10.1 239 12 672 14.5 15.0 

Sales Workers 33 239 5.0 192 6 437 7.4 9.8 


and Drivers 

19 489 10.2 107 5 105 5.9 6.6 

Labourers 601 980 20.4 2 903 10 364 11.9 10.5 

Not Defined (d) 179 329 6.9 674 2 437 2.8 1.8 

Total 1 123 4 800 100.0 5 364 87 178 100.0 100.0 







REPORT



The main occupations of employment in the East Arnhem region are: 

Labourers, with 20% of the workforce 

Technicians and Trade Workers, with 16% of the workforce. 

This is consistent with the large ore mining and processing industry in the region. 

The region has a higher proportion of labourers than the NT overall. 


Table 4.36 shows the top two occupational categories for the East Arnhem region and 





Occupation 

Labourers 





Cleaners and Laundry Workers, nfd (d) 49 2.9 

Garden and Nursery Labourers 


40 2.4 








Occupation 





Other Building and Engineering Technicians 17 2.3 


Plumbers 

Machinery Operators and Drivers 

6 0.8 

Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers 48 6.4 


Machinery Operators and Drivers, nfd (d) 16 2.1 

Engineering Production Systems Workers 10 1.3 

Earthmoving Plant Operators 6 0.8 

131 


132 




REPORT 

Nhulunbuy 


Occupation 







Plumbers 


22 0.9 




Engineering Professionals, nfd (d) 19 0.8 

Industrial, Mechanical and Production Engineers 18 0.8 



Occupation 

Labourers 








72 1.5 














East Arnhem Balance: recycling and rubbish collectors, labourers 

and handypersons 

Groote Eylandt: drillers, miners and shot firers, metal fitters and machinists, 

and recycling and rubbish collectors



Nhulunbuy: engineering production systems workers, electricians, and metal fitters 

and machinists. 












7.1. Supply: School Education2 In 2007, the East Arnhem region had 2.7% of all NT Year 12 students - 42 out of a total 

of 1 565. 

Nearly half (40%) of the Year 12 students in the region were Indigenous. 


Certificate of Education (NTCE) in that year. In 2007 there were 30 eligible students in the 

East Arnhem region achieving a pass rate of 97% and producing 29 graduates. 












The number of VET students in the East Arnhem region from 2003 to 2007 is shown in 

Table 4.37. 



http://www.dest.gov.au/sectors/training_skills/default2.htm, accessed 12 May 2008 

133 


134 




Table 4.37 VET Students, East Arnhem Region (2003 - 2007) (a) 

REPORT 

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 

East Arnhem Region (a) (b) 1 434 1 400 1 483 1 848 1 765 

NT (c) 23 166 22 579 23 409 23 019 24 376 






The East Arnhem region accounted for around 7% of VET students in the NT in 2007. 

This proportion has been increasing since 2003. 

The number of students studying in the region rose by an average of 5.3% per annum 

between 2003 and 2007, a higher rate than that of the NT, which increased by an 

average of 2.1% per annum over the same period. 

Table 4.38 shows the level of course for enrolled VET students in the East Arnhem region. 

Table 4.38 VET Students by Level of Course, East Arnhem Region (2007) (a) (b) 

East Arnhem Region NT 



Certificate IV 82 3.0 2 737 7.5 

Certificate III 257 9.3 7 907 21.6 

Certificate II 595 21.6 8 262 22.5 

Certificate I 640 23.3 7 650 20.9 

Other (c) 1 169 42.5 9 396 25.6 

Total 2 750 100.0 36 653 100.0 







For the East Arnhem region, VET participation is concentrated more in lower-level 

qualifications than is the case for the NT as a whole. Certificate I represents 23% of 

training in the region compared to 21% in the NT. Other courses (generally bridging 

courses) account for more than 40% of training in the region. 

Certificate III is an important education level and is the most common highest level 

qualification for the population in the region. There is an opportunity to increase 

the level of training within the region specifically targeting Certificate III. Currently 

this level accounts for only 9% of the training that occurs in the East Arnhem region, 

compared to 22% of VET training in the NT.



VET participation in the East Arnhem region is further profiled in Table 4.39, which 

shows student numbers by field of study. The numbers show where skills are being 

developed in the population. Only those fields with 1% or more of the total student 

numbers are shown. 

Table 4.39 VET Students by Field of Study, East Arnhem Region (2007) (a) (b) 

East Arnhem Region NT 


Office Studies 281 10.2 2 621 7.2 

Education 269 9.8 2 736 7.5 





133 4.8 958 2.6 





Health 76 2.8 1 065 2.9 


Marine Craft Operation 74 2.7 86 0.2 



Computer Science 71 2.6 215 0.6 






Boilermaking and Welding 44 1.6 142 0.4 



Maritime Engineering and Technology 41 1.5 473 1.3 

Agriculture 38 1.4 1 520 4.1 







Office Studies, Education and Occupational Health and Safety were the most 

common areas of study in East Arnhem region during 2007. 

Transport and storage, primary industry, community services health and education 

industries had the highest proportion of students. 

135 


136 




Further to these main fields of study, the main courses of study in the region were: 

Certificate I in Spoken and Written English 

Certificate I in Information Technology 

Certificate I in Business and 

Certificate II in Engineering. 

Seven out of the top 10 most-studied courses in the region were either at the 

Certificate I level or a short-course. 






Apprenticeship/traineeship statistics for the East Arnhem region are presented in Chart 

4.40. The in training numbers are for 31 December each year and the commencements 

are total numbers for each calendar year, 2002 - 2007. 

Chart 4.40 Apprenticeships and Traineeships, East Arnhem Region (2002 - 2007) 

200 

180 

160 

140 

120 

100 

80 

60 

40 

20 

0 

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 



There were 152 apprentice/trainee commencements in the region in 2007, an 

increase of 31% from 116 in 2002. 

The region accounted for 5.4% of total commencements in the NT for 2007, a similar 

proportion as five years ago (5.0%). 

Since 2004, the number of commencements, and students in training, has 

increased steadily. 

REPORT 

In Training Commencements (a)



In 2007, 173 apprentices/trainees were in training in the region. Of these: 


21% were in sales and personal service 

16% were in engineering and mining 

15% were in automotive. 


The number of jobseekers in the East Arnhem region and the NT that are receiving 


Chart 4.41 Jobseekers, East Arnhem Region and NT (2004 - 2007) (a) (b) 

1 300 

1 100 

900 

700 

500 

300 

100 1 938 

Dec 04 


(c) 


East Arnhem Region LHS NT RHS 










Before the impact of changes in CDEP eligibility and the lifting of RAEs, unemployed 

jobseeker numbers were rising in the region from a low in June 2006. In the period 

September 2005 to 2007, jobseekers in the region rose by 48%. For the same period, 

unemployed jobseeker numbers in the NT rose by 9%. 

Further information on CDEP can be found in Chapter 5 Indigenous 

Employment Profile. 

21 938 

16 938 

11 938 

6 938 

137 


138 




Table 4.42 shows characteristics of the jobseeker population. 


East Arnhem 


Duration 

Short-term 85 1 766 130 292 

Long-term 299 3 668 170 398 

Total 384 5 434 300 690 

% Long-term 77.9 67.5 56.7 






(c) Short-term income support duration is defined as less than 365 days, while long-term income support 


Over three quarters of jobseekers in the region were classified as long-term, that is in 

receipt of jobseeker benefits for a year or more. This compares to 68% of jobseekers 

in the NT and 57% in Australia. 

Both long-term and short-term jobseekers have been increasing in the period 

September 2005 to 2007. Short-term jobseekers increased 55% while long-term 

jobseekers increased 46%. This is in contrast to the NT overall, where short-term 

jobseekers fell marginally, while long-term jobseekers increased 14%. 




In December 2007, there were 327 DSP recipients in the region - 5.0% of the 

NT total. 

The number of DSP recipients increased by an average of 8% per annum over the 

period December 2004 to 2007, more than double the rate in the NT (3.5%). 


arrangements to enable them to engage effectively with the labour market. In 

September 2007, the East Arnhem Region had a similar number of both DSP recipients 

and Jobseekers. Employment programs in the region could be targeted at members 

of both groups. 




REPORT




The East Arnhem region has a relatively low number of Year 12 students moving into the 

labour market. VET student numbers have been growing strongly since 2002, supplying 

skills to the labour market, although many have been enabling and bridging courses. 

There is an opportunity to increase Certificate III level training, which is the main level of 

qualification for many workers in the region. 

The number of jobseekers in the region has increased since 2006, especially those 

experiencing short-term unemployment. The region can take advantage of this to 

increase employment as short-term jobseekers experience fewer barriers to employment 

compared to long-term jobseekers. 




examination of the supply of labour services (workers) and the demand for labour 








Labour demand in the East Arnhem region is profiled using the following indicators: 

Demand: Skill Profile 



The East Arnhem region occupation and industry profiles, shows the types of skills that 

were in the region’s workforce at the time of the 2006 Census. From this, occupations 

are cross-referenced with the NT Occupation Shortage List 5 to give an indication of the 

occupations in shortage in the East Arnhem region. 

The occupation and industry make-up of the East Arnhem region indicates which 

occupations are difficult to recruit to, or are subject to shortages. They are: 

Metal Fitters and Machinists Structural Steel and Welding Tradespersons 

Electricians Welfare Support Workers 

Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers Primary School Teachers 




139 


140 




Table 4.43 provides more detailed information on skill shortages by industry for the East 

Arnhem region. Part 1 shows the relative size of each industry (by employment) and Part 

2 shows the highest employment industries and lists occupations suffering recruitment 


Table 4.43 Skill Shortages by Selected Industries, East Arnhem Region (2008) (a) (b) (c) 

Part 1 


Industry 



Manufacturing 723 15.1 

Health Care and Social Assistance 519 10.8 

Construction 415 8.6 

Education and Training 360 7.5 

Part 2 






Accountants 



Child Carers 


Manufacturing Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers 

Metal Fitters and Machinists 

Cabinetmakers 

Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers 

Aircraft Maintenance Engineers 

Electricians 


Motor Mechanics 

Sheetmetal Trades Workers 

Glaziers 


Printers 


Concreters 

Binders, Finishers and Screen Printers 


Child Carers 


REPORT



Table 4.43 Skill Shortages by Selected Industries, East Arnhem Region (2008) (a) (b) (c) 

(continued) 

Part 2 


Health Care and Social Assistance Generalist Medical Practitioners 



Midwives 



Cooks 


Social Workers 



Construction Electricians 


Plumbers 

Painting Trades Workers 

Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers 


Concreters 

Plasterers 

Architectural, Building and Surveying Technicians 

Wall and Floor Tilers 

Bricklayers and Stonemasons 

Structural Steel Construction Workers 






Child Carers 








The table highlights the number of different occupations in shortage across the major 

industries in the region. 

141 


142 















demand in the NT 6 . The East Arnhem region is not separately identified on the JobSearch 

website and results for the Top End region are used to approximate those for East Arnhem. 

The Top End region includes the rural areas of the Darwin region (see Chapter 4 Northern 

Territory Regional Profiles). 

In the year to July 2007 there were 1 256 jobs advertised on JobSearch for the 

Top End region. 

Table 4.44 provides information taken from the JobSearch website. In this table only 

those occupations which account for 1% or more of the total number of advertised jobs 

are shown. 

Table 4.44 JobSearch Vacancy List, Top End Region (2006/07) 


Public Servants 199 15.8 

General Labourers 131 10.4 


Bar Attendants 35 2.8 

Cooks 35 2.8 


Domestic Housekeepers 33 2.6 

Chefs 30 2.4 




Boilermakers and Welders 26 2.1 



Miners 23 1.8 



6 Employers do not necessarily register vacancies through the JobSearch website or affiliated newspapers, 

so not all vacancies will appear in these figures. The full extent of coverage is not known and any figures 

should be used with caution. 

REPORT



Table 4.44 JobSearch Vacancy List, Top End Region (2006/07) (continued) 


General Mobile Plant Operators 21 1.7 




Child Care Worker 16 1.3 



Carpenters and Joiners 15 1.2 

Project and Program Administrators 14 1.1 


Many of the occupations listed in the table are currently identified as being in short 

supply in the NT and nationally. 

Of the jobs advertised in the previous year: 

17% were for labourers, factory and machine hands 


14% were in food, hospitality and tourism 

7% were in cleaning 

7% were in gardening, farming and fishing. 


The concentrated and sustained employment growth of the NT is mirrored in the region, 

with the number of employed people living in the East Arnhem region increasing by 14% 

over the five years to 2006. 


industries and this demand profile suggests that opportunities are available across a 

range of skill levels. 

143 


144 



Northern Territory Regional Profi les - Katherine Region 



This regional snapshot provides information on the economic background of the 

Katherine region, including information on the cost of living. 

A map showing the breakdown of the region into its sub-regions, towns and communities 

is shown below in Figure 4.45. The Katherine region is split into four sub-regions; Elsey, Gulf, 

Katherine and Victoria. 


Timber Creek 

VICTORIA 

Daguragu 

KATHERINE (T) 

Lajamanu 

Yarralin 

Kalkarindji 

Binjari 

The Katherine region accounts for approximately 9% of the Northern Territory (NT) 

population. Katherine is the major service centre for the region. 

Major industries in the region include tourism, mining, pastoralism, farming and horticulture. 

RAAF Base Tindal is also located in the region, which houses a significant number of 

Defence personnel and families. 

The Katherine region is home to major tourist attractions such as Nitmiluk Gorge, Leliyn 

(Edith Falls), Cutta Cutta Caves and Mataranka. 

REPORT 

KATHERINE REGION 

Mataranka 

Barunga 

Beswick 

Jilkminggan 

ELSEY 

Minyeri 

Ngukurr 

Borroloola 

GULF



Major projects, such as the $110 million McArthur River mine, Katherine Daly Basin 

Development, Victoria Highway upgrade and various community developments should 

provide significant employment opportunities in the region. 

With modern road and rail infrastructure, and a strategic location, Katherine is positioned 

to develop as a regional freight hub servicing industries in both the Territory and the 

Kimberley region 1 . 


In December 2007, grocery prices in Katherine were similar to those in Darwin. Prices 

have increased by an average of 5.3% per annum since December 2005, the third 

highest of all NT regions surveyed 2 . 

In June 2008, fuel prices in Katherine were the cheapest of all towns surveyed in the NT. 

Tennant Creek had the most expensive fuel. Historically, Katherine has often had the 

cheapest fuel in the NT. Fuel prices in the NT have risen dramatically over the past year 

and in Katherine the price per litre has risen by 11% to 166.3 cents per litre. Fuel prices in 

Katherine have risen by an average 7% per year in the 10 years to June 2008 - the lowest 

growth of all towns surveyed in the NT 3 . 

Property rental vacancy rates have been generally declining in Katherine since a high 

of 8% in 2004, to a low of 2.7% in March 2008 4 . This suggests a prolonged high level of 

demand for accommodation in the region. 

The region is characterised by differing costs for consumables, with relatively high grocery 

costs but comparatively low fuel costs. Demand for accommodation is likely to increase 

as construction and mining activity place pressure on the available housing stock. 

2. POPULATION 




This section profiles the characteristics of the population in the Katherine region and 







rates for the Katherine region over the period 1997 - 2007. The ERP figures are calculated 




1 Budget 2008-09, Budget Paper, Regional Highlights, Katherine, Northern Territory Treasury, May 2008 


3 Australian Automobile Association website, www.aaa.asn.au/issues/petrol.htm, accessed 12 may 2008 


145 


146 





Elsey Gulf Katherine Victoria 

Katherine 



1997 2 633 2 865 9 476 2 590 17 564 186 912 18 517 564 

2002 2 566 3 381 8 986 3 026 17 959 199 442 19 652 562 

2006 2 804 3 575 9 023 3 244 18 646 210 674 20 701 488 

2007 2 834 3 650 9 124 3 293 18 901 214 975 21 017 222 


1997 - 2007 

(10 years) 

0.7 2.5 -0.4 2.4 0.7 1.4 1.3 

2002 - 2007 

(5 years) 

2.0 1.5 0.3 1.7 1.0 1.5 1.4 

2006 - 2007 1.1 2.1 1.1 1.5 1.4 2.0 1.5 


% Population 15.0 19.3 48.3 17.4 100.0 N/A N/A 




Katherine region accounts for 9% of the NT’s population with 48% of the region’s 

population residing in Katherine. 

The population of the region increased by an average 0.7% per annum over the 

period 1997 - 2007, compared with 1.4% per annum for the NT. 

Gulf and Victoria sub-regions had the highest rates of population growth over 

the last 10 years, with annual averages of 2.5% and 2.4% respectively. Elsey 

sub-region recorded slower growth over this period and Katherine was the only 

sub-region to record a decline in population (0.4%). 

The region’s population has become increasingly spread out, with Gulf and Victoria 

accounting for 19% and 17% of the population in 2007 compared to 16% and 14% 

respectively in 1997. 

REPORT







Table 4.47 provides general population statistics and characteristics for the Katherine region. 



Katherine 


Age 

Median Age 

Gender (No.) 

26 22 30 23 27 31 37 

Male 1 253 1 593 4 138 1 417 8 401 99 370 9 799 250 

Female 

Gender (%) 

1 178 1 458 4 049 1 374 8 059 93 528 10 056 038 

Male 51.5 52.2 50.5 50.8 51.0 51.5 49.4 

Female 

Indigenous 

48.5 47.8 49.5 49.2 49.0 48.5 50.6 

Number 1 642 2 522 1 979 2 128 8 271 53 665 455 018 

Proportion (%) (b) 67.5 82.7 24.2 76.2 50.2 27.8 2.3 





There are more males than females in both the Katherine region and in the NT. 

The median age of the population varies across the sub-regions. Katherine has an 

older population, with a median age of 30, while Gulf has the youngest population, 

with a median age of 22 years. 

The median age of the population in the Katherine region was 27 in 2006 and this has 

remained unchanged since 2001. 

Over 15% of the Territory’s Indigenous population reside in the region, representing 

around 50% of the total population in the Katherine region. 

The highest concentration of the Indigenous population is in the Gulf sub-region 

where nearly 83% of the population is Indigenous. This sub-region is also the fastest 

growing in the region. Further information on the Indigenous population can be 

found in Chapter 5 Indigenous Employment Profile. 

147 


148 





Table 4.48 provides a detailed age breakdown of the Katherine region, its sub-regions, the 

NT and Australia. 



Age No. % No. % No. % No. % 

0-14 694 28.5 1 050 34.4 2 253 27.5 901 32.3 

15-24 448 18.4 576 18.9 1 078 13.2 594 21.3 

25-34 319 13.1 482 15.8 1 374 16.8 410 14.7 

35-44 371 15.3 380 12.5 1 374 16.8 344 12.3 

45-54 288 11.8 282 9.2 1 025 12.5 256 9.2 

55-64 195 8.0 168 5.5 656 8.0 178 6.4 

65+ 116 4.8 113 3.7 427 5.2 108 3.9 

Total 2 431 100.0 3 051 100.0 8 187 100.0 2 791 100.0 

Katherine Region NT Australia 


0-14 4 898 29.8 47 607 24.7 3 937 210 19.8 

15-24 2 696 16.4 29 367 15.2 2 704 266 13.6 

25-34 2 585 15.7 32 057 16.6 2 676 394 13.5 

35-44 2 469 15.0 31 156 16.2 2 937 845 14.8 

45-54 1 851 11.2 26 478 13.7 2 762 521 13.9 

55-64 1 197 7.3 16 953 8.8 2 192 680 11.0 

65+ 764 4.6 9 283 4.8 2 644 371 13.3 

Total 16 460 100.0 192 901 100.0 19 855 287 100.0 



Katherine has an older population profile than the other sub-regions, and is the only 

area in the Katherine region to have a profile comparable to that of the NT. 

The sub-regions with the largest proportion of Indigenous population are also the 


Chart 4.49 is a graphical representation of the region’s age distribution compared to that 


REPORT




12% 

10% 

8% 



Katherine region has a younger demographic profile than the NT. 

The region clearly shows the influence of a large, relatively young, Indigenous 

population. The population aged 0-9 is the largest for all 10-year age groups in 

the region. 


The Katherine region experienced relatively low population growth between 1997 and 

2007, growing at a slower rate than both the NT and Australia. Katherine is the only 

sub-region to record negative growth over this period, which may indicate a movement 

from the major service centre to regional areas. Katherine accounted for 48% of the 

region’s population in 2007. In 1996 this figure was 55%. 

3. EDUCATION 


6% 

4% 

% Population 

2% 

0% 

85 + 

80-84 

75-79 

70-74 

65-69 

60-64 

55-59 

50-54 

45-49 

40-44 

35-39 

30-34 

25-29 

20-24 

15-19 

10-14 

5-9 

0-4 

0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% 

% Population 






NT 

149 


150 




This section provides an educational profile of the Katherine region’s population and 








Table 4.50 provides an education profile of the Katherine region, its sub-regions, the NT 

and Australia. The information is based on the highest level of schooling completed, and 

the highest level of non-school education completed. 



No. % No. % No. % No. % 

School 

Other (c) 362 20.8 322 16.1 1 322 22.3 344 18.2 

Did Not 

Attend School 

89 5.1 146 7.3 70 1.2 163 8.6 

Below Year 10 585 33.6 783 39.2 757 12.8 600 31.7 

Year 10 282 16.2 357 17.9 1 257 21.2 387 20.4 

Year 11 162 9.3 161 8.1 658 11.1 134 7.1 

Year 12 259 14.9 230 11.5 1 873 31.5 266 14.0 

Total 

Non-School 

1 739 100.0 1 999 100.0 5 937 100.0 1 894 100.0 

Higher Education (d) 123 7.0 114 5.7 1 016 17.0 142 7.5 

Certificate 189 10.9 137 6.9 1 246 2.1 175 9.2 

Other (e) 1 427 82.1 1 748 87.4 3 675 61.9 1 577 83.3 

Total 1 739 100.0 1 999 100.0 5 937 100.0 1 894 100.0 

REPORT




(continued) 


No. % No. % No. % 

School 

Other (c) 2 350 20.3 26 051 17.9 2 195 961 13.8 


Below Year 10 2 725 23.6 23 761 16.4 2 084 710 13.1 

Year 10 2 283 19.7 27 039 18.6 3 437 859 21.6 

Year 11 1 115 9.6 17 033 11.7 1 404 740 8.8 

Year 12 2 628 22.7 48 257 33.2 6 657 136 41.8 

Total 

Non-School 

11 569 100.0 145 295 100.0 15 918 080 100.0 

Higher Education (d) 1 395 12.1 26 456 18.2 3 612 776 22.7 

Certificate 1 747 15.1 25 018 17.2 2 662 780 16.7 

Other (e) 8 427 72.8 93 821 64.6 9 642 524 60.6 

Total 11 569 100.0 145 295 100.0 15 918 080 100.0 










Nearly a quarter (23%) of people in the Katherine region, aged over 15 years, has 

completed Year 12. For the NT, the comparable figure is 33%. In addition, 24% of 

people in the region have not completed Year 10, compared to only 16% in the NT. 

The Katherine region also has a lower proportion of people, than in the NT as a whole, 

who have obtained a higher education qualification. 

The population in the Katherine sub-region has a higher level of education than other 

sub-regions. Elsey sub-region has a slightly higher proportion of the population with 

non-school qualifications than the other sub-regions outside Katherine. 

Over a quarter of the population in the region has a certificate or a higher level 

qualification. The majority of these qualifications are Certificate III (37%) and 

Bachelor Degrees (22%). 

151 


152 





The number of people who have completed Year 12 increased from 21% to 

23% of the population over the five years to 2006 

Nearly half (47%) of the regions population had a non-school qualification in 2006, 

compared to 43% in 2001 


increased by 14% and 18% respectively, over the same period. 



Katherine region, its sub-regions, the NT and Australia. These figures are categorised by 

the ABS Australian Standard Classification of Education (ASCED). 



Field of Study No. % No. % No. % No. % 

Natural and 


0 0.0 6 1.0 42 1.2 10 1.6 

Information 

Technology 

1 0.1 0 0.0 49 1.4 6 0.9 

Engineering 

and Related 

Technologies 

89 13.0 46 8.0 621 17.3 50 7.8 

Architecture 

and Building 

Agriculture, 



0 0.0 28 4.9 125 3.5 34 5.3 

42 6.2 23 4.0 140 3.9 48 7.5 

Health 34 5.0 24 4.2 301 8.4 35 5.5 

Education 57 8.4 53 9.2 253 7.0 30 4.7 

Management 

and Commerce 

44 6.5 25 4.4 384 10.7 40 6.2 

Society and Culture 29 4.3 27 4.7 221 6.1 27 4.2 

Creative Arts 0 0.0 8 1.4 41 1.1 6 0.9 



22 3.2 9 1.6 132 3.7 11 1.7 

Other (c) 367 53.8 324 56.5 1 285 35.8 345 53.7 

Total 682 100.0 573 100.0 3 594 100.0 642 100.0 

REPORT




(continued) 



Natural and 


58 1.1 1 644 2.2 225 008 2.7 

Information Technology 56 1.0 1 381 1.8 220 977 2.6 


Technologies 

806 14.7 12 067 15.8 1 351 119 16.2 

Architecture and Building 187 3.4 3 384 4.4 457 211 5.5 



253 4.6 2 009 2.6 169 039 2.0 

Health 394 7.2 5 884 7.7 703 163 8.4 

Education 393 7.2 5 499 7.2 619 099 7.4 

Management 

and Commerce 

493 9.0 9 032 11.8 1 353 241 16.2 


Creative Arts 52 0.9 1 526 2.0 252 743 3.0 



174 3.2 3 379 4.4 393 406 4.7 

Other (c) 2 321 42.3 24 061 31.5 1 871 355 22.4 

Total 5 491 100.0 76 367 100.0 8 361 814 100.0 







The Katherine region mirrored both the NT and Australia in that Engineering and 

Related Technologies was its most common area of highest qualification. 

Management and Commerce along with Health were also among the most 

common while Creative Arts, Information Technology and Natural and Physical 

Sciences were among the least. 

Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies, Management and Commerce 

along with Education and Health were major areas of study in the sub-regions outside 

of Katherine. 


The Katherine region has a lower education profile than that of the rest of the NT. Since 

2001, education levels in the region have increased which should enable the region to 

become more productive and increase its level of engagement with the labour market. 

153 


154 





















Table 4.52 provides key labour force statistics for the Katherine region. 

REPORT





Katherine 


Workforce 

Working Age 

Population (b) 

1 729 2 003 5 936 1 895 11 563 145 291 15 918 080 

Not in the Labour 

Force 

564 770 1 175 598 3 107 37 149 5 271 120 

Participation Rate 

(%) 

Employed 

46.5 50.2 64.1 52.4 57.2 62.8 60.4 

Full-time 370 325 2 655 510 3 860 60 089 5 827 433 

Part-time 286 505 714 378 1 883 20 178 2 685 197 

Total (c) 722 941 3 630 940 6 233 87 179 9 104 185 


Population 

Employed CDEP 

41.8 47.0 61.2 49.6 53.9 60.0 57.2 

CDEP 240 533 33 494 1 300 5 365 14 500 


Unemployed 

33.2 56.6 0.9 52.6 20.9 6.2 0.2 

Looking for 

Full-time Work 

71 55 120 37 283 2 718 310 581 

Looking for 

Part-time Work 

11 9 57 16 93 1 286 193 221 

Total 82 64 177 53 376 4 004 503 802 


Population 

4.7 3.2 3.0 2.8 3.3 2.8 3.2 

Unemployment 

Rate (%) 


10.2 6.4 4.6 5.3 5.7 4.4 5.2 

Not Stated 361 228 954 304 1 847 16 959 1 038 973 


Population 

20.9 11.4 16.1 16.0 16.0 11.7 6.5 







Katherine region has the third highest unemployment rate and the third lowest labour 

force participation rate in the NT. 

Within Katherine sub-region, Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) 

account for less than 1% of employment, however, in the other sub-regions this 

proportion is much higher. For example, over half of all employment in both Gulf and 

Victoria is through CDEP where there are a higher proportion of Indigenous people. 

155 


156 




The number of employed people in the region has fallen by 3.6% since 2001, whereas 

for the NT overall there has been employment growth of 4.1% in this period. 



Katherine region. The percentage unemployed is the percentage of the total population 




Elsey 

Gulf 

Katherine 

Victoria 


NT 

Australia 

42% 

47% 

50% 

54% 

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 






Only Katherine sub-region has a participation rate above the NT average. 

Elsey Balance sub-region has the highest proportion of unemployed people, with 5% 

of the labour force unemployed. Elsey Balance sub-region also has the lowest levels 

of employment and participation in the Katherine region. 

Labour force participation is lower outside the service centre of Katherine, but the 

gap is not as wide as it is in some remote areas of the NT, such as in the Barkly and 

East Arnhem regions. 

A large proportion of the population, in some areas of the region, are not engaging 


REPORT 

61% 

60% 

5% 

3% 

3% 

33% 

39% 

57% 3% 

33% 

7% 


3% 

3% 

3% 

32% 

27% 

20% 

26% 

21% 

16% 

16% 

16% 

11% 

12%




Chart 4.54 shows the age breakdown of the Katherine region’s labour force. 

Chart 4.54 Labour Force Status by Age, Katherine Region (2006) (a) (b) 


55 – 64 years 

45 – 54 years 

35 – 44 years 

25 – 34 years 

20 – 24 years 

15 – 19 years 

17% 






The Katherine region labour force participation rate follows expected patterns, with 


Compared to the NT, Katherine region has higher participation rates in the population 

group aged 65+ but lower rates for all other age groups. 


0% 

36% 

52% 

55% 

58% 

64% 

63% 

4% 

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 

In 2006, there were 13 155 people of working age (15 years and older) in the Katherine 

region, accounting for over 70% of the region’s population. This proportion has increased 

from 68% in 2001. 

The region has a relatively strong labour market and employment is concentrated in the 

service centre of Katherine. Outside Katherine, CDEP is the major source of employment 

and engagement with the labour market is lower. 

63% 


2% 

5% 

4% 

42% 

4% 

2% 

29% 

24% 

25% 

17% 

18% 

20% 

16% 

16% 

16% 

15% 

15% 

17% 

157 


158 












Table 4.55 provides a breakdown of the number of people employed by industry for the 

Katherine region, the NT and Australia. CDEP figures are provided alongside the region’s 







667 1 227 19.7 2 731 13 970 16.0 6.0 



308 850 13.6 1 171 8 580 9.8 10.5 

Defence (d) 0 631 10.1 0 4 862 5.6 11.3 



Retail Trade 23 475 7.6 130 7 897 9.1 7.8 

Construction 25 307 4.9 59 6 094 7.0 6.6 


Food Services 

3 304 4.9 7 5 644 6.5 4.7 



25 221 3.5 80 2 628 3.0 3.7 


Transport, Postal 

and Warehousing 

0 147 2.4 9 3 985 4.6 10.5 



0 85 1.4 30 3 983 4.6 1.4 





Mining 0 58 0.9 0 1 709 2.0 1.9 

Rental, Hiring and Real Estate 

Services 

0 45 0.7 3 1 292 1.5 3.8 

REPORT



Table 4.55 Regional Employment by Industry (2006) (a) (b) (c) (continued) 





0 43 0.7 0 1 221 1.4 1.2 


Services 

15 41 0.7 33 524 0.6 1.0 

Not Defined (f) 160 312 5.0 709 2 813 3.2 2.6 

Total 1 295 6 235 100.0 5 364 87 180 100.0 100.0 









(f ) Not Defined includes inadequately described and not stated. 

Public Administration and Safety (excluding Defence) is the largest industry in the 

Katherine region, accounting for 20% of employment. 

Health Care and Social Assistance accounts for 14% of the workforce and is the 

second largest industry in the region. 

The region accounts for 7% of employment in the NT. Within the industry base of the 

NT, Katherine region has a high proportion of workers in: 

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (24% of employed persons in the NT who work in 

these industries are in the Katherine region) 

Public Administration and Safety (10%) 

Health Care and Social Assistance (10%) 

and low proportion in: 

Manufacturing (2.0%) 

Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (2.1%). 


Table 4.56 provides the details of the top three industries of employment, and their 

sub-sectors, for each sub-region and Katherine region total. The major industry groupings 


159 


160 





REPORT 

Elsey 


Industry 





Defence 7 1.0 




4 0.5 

Sheep, Beef Cattle and Grain Farming 101 13.9 

Fruit and Tree Nut Growing 23 3.2 

Mushroom and Vegetable Growing 9 1.2 

Other Crop Growing 9 1.2 

Agriculture, nfd (d) 


6 0.8 






Gulf 


Industry 









9 1.0 




Residential Care Services 


6 0.6 

Sheep, Beef Cattle and Grain Farming 69 7.3



Katherine 


Industry 









32 0.9 






Retail Trade 

38 1.1 




Motor Vehicle Retailing 25 0.7 

Recreational Goods Retailing 22 0.6 

Victoria 


Industry 








10 1.1 


Agriculture, nfd (d) 8 0.8 

Agriculture and Fishing Support Services 


7 0.7 






161 


162 




REPORT 



Industry 









58 0.9 







52 0.8 











Elsey: local government administration, cattle and grain farming and 

school education 

Gulf: local government administration, cattle and grain farming and social 


Katherine: defence, school education, state government administration and 

supermarket and grocery stores 

Victoria: local government administration, cattle and grain farming and social 

assistance services.











Table 4.57 provides a breakdown of employment by occupation for the Katherine region, 

NT and Australia. CDEP figures are provided alongside the region’s total figures to show 

the occupations in which CDEP participants are employed. 




Managers 13 706 11.3 50 10 542 12.1 13.2 





226 888 14.2 845 10 910 12.5 8.8 

Clerical and 


50 655 10.5 239 12 672 14.5 15.0 

Sales Workers 43 357 5.7 192 6 437 7.4 9.8 


and Drivers 

20 290 4.7 107 5 105 5.9 6.6 

Labourers 746 1 313 21.1 2 903 10 364 11.9 10.5 

Not Defined (d) 139 300 4.8 674 2 437 2.8 1.8 

Total 1 295 6 236 100.0 5 364 87 178 100.0 100.0 







The main occupations of employment in the Katherine region are: 


Technicians and Trade Workers, with 14% of the workforce. 

This is consistent with the defence and agricultural industry sectors within the region. 

The region has a relatively high concentration of labourers compared to the NT overall. 

163 


164 





Table 4.58 shows the top two occupational categories for the Katherine region and 



REPORT 

Elsey 


Occupation 

Labourers 






Fencers 

Managers 

17 2.3 

Livestock Farmers 62 8.5 

Crop Farmers 23 3.2 

Retail Managers 15 2.1 

Farmers and Farm Managers, nfd (d) 6 0.8 

School Principals 4 0.6 

Gulf 


Occupation 

Labourers 





Fencers 23 2.5 

Handypersons 


20 2.1 





Indigenous Health Workers 10 1.1



Katherine 


Occupation 



Aircraft Maintenance Engineers 174 4.8 


Cooks 57 1.6 


Electricians 


31 0.9 




Air Transport Professionals 48 1.3 

University Lecturers and Tutors 18 0.5 

Victoria 


Occupation 

Labourers 








22 2.3 






165 


166 




REPORT 



Occupation 

Labourers 








85 1.4 

Aircraft Maintenance Engineers 177 2.8 

Cooks 98 1.6 










In addition to the major categories above, overall the main occupations 

of employment by sub-region are: 

Elsey: livestock farmers, recycling and rubbish collectors, and livestock 

farm workers 

Gulf: recycling and rubbish collectors, livestock farm workers, and labourers 

Katherine: aircraft maintenance engineers, sales assistants, general clerks 

and retail managers 

Victoria: livestock farm workers, handypersons and welfare support workers. 











Supply: Disability Support Pension Recipients.



7.1. Supply: School Education 5 

In 2007, the Katherine region had 5.2% of all NT Year 12 students - 82 out of a total of 1 565. 

The number of Year 12 students in the region is relatively stable - there were 80 in 2003. 

Indigenous students accounted for 30% of all Year 12 students, indicating that they were 

under-represented in the school population because Indigenous people comprise about 

50% of the region’s population. 


Certificate of Education (NTCE) in that year. In 2007 there were 27 eligible students in the 

Katherine region achieving a pass rate of 81% and producing 22 graduates. 

Over the period 2005 - 2007, there has been a shift among subjects studied from Science 

to Health and Personal Development, which has risen from 8% of all subjects studied in 

2005 to 31% in 2007. Society and Environment, and English have consistently remained 

the other main subjects of study in the region. 












The number of VET students in the Katherine region from 2003 to 2007 is shown in 

Table 4.59. 

Table 4.59 VET Students, Katherine Region (2003 - 2007) (a) 

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 

Katherine Region (a) (b) 1 754 1 962 2 435 2 651 2 707 

NT (c) 23 166 22 579 23 409 23 019 24 376 






The Katherine region accounts for around 11% of VET students in the NT in 2007. Since 

2003, the number of students studying in the region has increased at an average rate 

of 11% per annum. The comparable NT rate is 1.3%. 




167 


168 




Table 4.60 shows the level of qualification for enrolled VET students in the 

Katherine region. 

Table 4.60 VET Students by Level of Course, Katherine Region (2007) (a) (b) 

Katherine Region NT 






Certificate I 897 25.8 7 650 20.9 

Other (c) 726 20.9 9 396 25.6 

Total 3 477 100.0 36 653 100.0 







For the Katherine region, VET participation is concentrated more in lower-level 

qualifications than is the case for the NT as a whole. Certificate I and II represent 58% 

of training undertaken in the region, compared to 43% in the NT. 

Participation in Certificate III and IV, Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses is lower 

in the region than it is in the NT overall. 

VET participation in the Katherine region is further profiled in Table 4.61, which 

shows student numbers by field of study. The numbers show where skills are being 

developed in the population. Only those fields with 1% or more of the total student 

numbers are shown. 

REPORT



Table 4.61 VET Students by Field of Study, Katherine Region (2007) (a) (b) 

Katherine Region NT 


Agriculture 855 24.6 1 520 4.1 

Education 603 17.3 2 736 7.5 












First Aid 55 1.6 492 1.3 



50 1.4 958 2.6 

Language and Literature 46 1.3 185 0.5 

Vehicle Mechanics 46 1.3 116 0.3 


Other Mixed Field Programs 39 1.1 129 0.4 





within the region and the NT. 

Agriculture, Education and Office Studies were the most common areas of study in 

the Katherine region during 2007. 

Primary Industry, General Education, and Transport and Storage were the industries 

with the highest concentrations of students. These industries are important 

employment and economic drivers in the region. 


Certificate I in Introductory Vocational Education 

Certificate II in Agriculture 

Certificate II in Rural Operations 

Course to Develop Knowledge Required to Obtain a Learner’s Permit 

Certificate I in Rural Operations. 

169 


170 









Apprenticeship/traineeship statistics for the Katherine region are presented in Chart 4.62. 



Chart 4.62 Apprenticeships and Traineeships, Katherine Region (2002 - 2007) 

300 

250 

200 

150 

100 

50 

0 

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 





The region accounts for 9% of total commencements in the NT for 2007, the same 

proportion as five years ago. 



14% were in building and construction 

14% were in business and clerical 

14% were in utilities. 

Commencements have increased by 17% in the region from 2002 to 2007. However, 

the overall number of students in training has increased at a much faster rate (61%) 

over the same period. Some training, apprenticeships particularly, can take a number 

of years to complete and the large numbers of students in training suggest that the 

supply of skills will increase in the coming years. 

REPORT 





The number of jobseekers in the Katherine region, and the NT that are receiving 


Chart 4.63 Jobseekers, Katherine Region and NT (2004 - 2007) (a) (b) 

1 600 

1 400 

1 200 

1 000 

800 

600 

400 3 359 

Dec 04 


(c) 


Katherine Region LHS NT RHS 







There was a large increase in jobseekers in the NT and its regions in December 

2007. This was due to CDEP eligibility changes and the lifting of Remote Area 

Exemptions (RAE). 

Before the impact of changes in CDEP eligibility, and the lifting of RAEs, unemployed 

jobseekers had started to trend down in the region compared to the NT. 




13 359 

11 359 

9 359 

7 359 

5 359 

171 


172 





Katherine 


Duration 

Short-term 188 1 766 130 292 

Long-term 482 3 668 170 398 

Total 670 5 434 300 690 

% Long-term 


71.9 67.5 56.7 

Indigenous 87.8 75.6 10.6 


Gender (%) 

12.2 24.4 89.4 

Male 60.3 59.3 61.8 

Female 

Age (%) 

39.7 40.7 38.2 

15-19 9.7 10.2 12.3 

20-24 13.4 16.0 17.1 

25-44 54.9 52.1 41.1 

45+ 21.9 21.7 29.5 











In the Katherine region, approximately 50% of the population is Indigenous, however 

this cohort accounts for 88% of unemployed jobseekers in the region. 

72% of jobseekers in the region were classified as long-term, that is in receipt of 

jobseeker benefits for a year or more. This compares to 68% of jobseekers in the NT 

and 57% in Australia. 

Before the impact of changes in CDEP and the lifting of RAEs, in the two years to 

September 2007, Indigenous jobseekers in the region grew by 21%, compared to a 

decline of 23% for non-Indigenous jobseekers. 

REPORT



7.5. Supply: Disability Support Pension Recipients 7 

Many people with disabilities who are registered with Centrelink to receive the Disability 



In December 2007, there were 626 DSP recipients in the region - 10% of the NT total. 

The number of DSP recipients increased by an average of 7% per annum over the 

period December 2004 to 2007, nearly double the rate in the NT (3.5%). 


arrangements to enable them to engage effectively with the labour market. 

Before the effects of CDEP changes, the Katherine Region had a similar number 

of DSP recipients and Jobseekers, both of which could provide a source of labour 

for the region. 




The supply of skills to the region through the VET system has increased strongly over the 

five years to 2007. The region has had the second strongest growth in student numbers 

of all regions in the NT over this period. Training is occurring in areas linked to the major 


While the supply of skills is increasing, so is the number of jobseekers. This growth is 

concentrated in the Indigenous population because there has been a strong decline in 

the overall number of non-Indigenous jobseekers in the Katherine region over the period 

2004 to 2007. 












Labour demand in the Katherine region is profiled using the following indicators: 




173 


174 





The Katherine region occupation and industry profiles show the types of skills that were 

in the region’s workforce at the time of the 2006 Census. From this, occupations are 


occupations in shortage in the Katherine region. 

The occupation and industry make-up of the Katherine region indicates which 

occupations are difficult to recruit to, or are subject to shortages. They are: 

Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Child Carers 

Welfare Support Workers Cooks 

Primary School Teachers Registered Nurses 



Table 4.65 provides more detailed information on skill shortages by industry for the 

Katherine region. Part 1 shows the relative size of each industry (by employment) and 

Part 2 shows the highest employment industries and lists occupations suffering recruitment 


Table 4.65 Skill Shortages by Selected Industries, Katherine Region (2008) (a) (b) (c) 

Part 1 


Industry 






Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing 505 8.1 

Part 2 



(excluding defence) 



Accountants 



Child Carers 

Database and Systems Administrators, and ICT Security 

Specialists 


REPORT



Table 4.65 Skill Shortages by Selected Industries, Katherine Region (2008) (a) (b) (c) 

(continued) 

Part 2 



Child Carers 





Midwives 



Cooks 





Defence Aircraft Maintenance Engineers 

Electronics Trades Workers 



Cooks 

Telecommunications Trades Workers 

Chefs 

Electricians 

Marine Transport Professionals 




Child Carers 

Vocational Education Teachers (Aus) / Polytechnic Teachers (NZ) 

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Crop Farm Workers 

Cooks 












175 


176 

















demand in the Katherine region 9 . In the year to July 2007 nearly 1 420 jobs were 

advertised on JobSearch for the Katherine region. 


those occupations which account for 1% or more of the total number of advertised 

jobs are shown. 

Table 4.66 JobSearch Vacancy List, Katherine Region (2006/07) 


Public servants 132 9.3 





Cooks 67 4.7 




Construction Plant Operators 26 1.8 


Chefs 25 1.8 



Car Parts and Accessories Fitters 19 1.3 



Carpenters and Joiners 15 1.1 

Rural Trainees, Jackeroos and Jilleroos 15 1.1 

9 Employers do not necessarily register vacancies through the JobSearch website or affiliated newspapers, so not all 

vacancies will appear in these figures. The full extent of coverage is not known and any figures should be used with caution. 

REPORT



Table 4.66 JobSearch Vacancy List, Katherine Region (2006/07) 

(continued) 




Service Assistants 14 1.0 


Interestingly, the majority of the occupations listed in the table are semi-skilled and 

unskilled and not identified as being in short supply in the NT or nationally. This may 

indicate that either the employers in the region look elsewhere for skilled labour, 

and are advertising using alternative methods, or that it reflects the particular 

requirements of the region. 



13% were in gardening, farming and fishing 

12% were in labourers, factory and machine workers 

9% were in government and defence. 


The number of employed people living in this region has declined by 2.3% over the five 

years to 2006, whereas employment in the NT has grown by 3.9% over this period. 

Change in industries of employment over the period was concentrated in the public 

service industries of Government Administration (decline) and Health and Education 

(increase). Some of the tourism related industries also declined in the period, namely 

Retail Trade and Accommodation, Cafes and Restaurants. 


industries. The concentrated and sustained employment growth in the NT is not 

mirrored in the region, which has shown declining employment from 2001 - 2006. With 

opportunities and skill shortages in growth areas, such as Darwin, the Katherine region will 

find it difficult to retain skills in the face of increasing competition. 

177 


178 



Northern Territory Regional Profi les - Barkly Region 

Barkly Region 


This regional snapshot provides information on the economic background of the Barkly 

region, including information on the cost of living. 


is shown below in Figure 4.67. The Barkly region is split into three sub-regions; Tableland, 

Tennant Creek and Tennant Creek Balance. 


Marlinja 

Elliot 

REPORT 

BARKLY REGION 

TABLELAND 

TENNANT 

CREEK (T) 

TENNANT CREEK – BAL 

Ali Curung 

Alpurrurulam



The Barkly region accounts for more than 22% of the Northern Territory (NT) land mass, 

but less than 3% of the NT population. Tennant Creek is the major service centre for 

the region. 

Major industries in the region include mining and pastoralism. The cattle industry in the 

region accounts for approximately 40% of the NT industry 1 . 

The Alice Springs to Darwin railway passes through the Barkly Region, and is expected to 

contribute to growth in the region’s economy. 


In June 2008, fuel prices in Tennant Creek were the most expensive of all towns surveyed 

in the NT. Katherine had the cheapest fuel. Fuel prices in the NT have risen dramatically 

over the past year and in Tennant Creek prices rose by 18% to 179.4 cents per litre. Fuel 

prices in the town have risen by an average 8% per year since June 1998, more than any 

other region in the NT 2 . 

Despite a lack of information about the overall cost of living, the long-term growth in the 

price of fuel suggests that the costs of operating business and transporting goods will be 

major barriers to economic and workforce development in the region. 

2. POPULATION 




This section profiles the characteristics of the population in the Barkly region and includes 

statistics on: 






rates for the Barkly region over the period 1997 - 2007. The ERP figures are calculated by 

adjusting usual resident population figures from the 2006 Census for births, deaths and 



1 Budget 2008-09, Budget Paper, Regional Highlights, Barkly, Northern Territory Treasury, May 2008 

2 Australian Automobile Association website, www.aaa.asn.au/issues/petrol.htm, accessed 15 August 2008 

179 


180 





REPORT 

Tennant 

Creek 

Tennant 

Creek 

Balance 

Barkly 


Tableland 


1997 1 080 3 644 1 817 6 541 186 912 18 517 564 

2002 1 007 3 054 1 843 5 904 199 442 19 652 562 

2006 1 041 3 332 1 830 6 203 210 674 20 701 488 

2007 


1 050 3 427 1 853 6 330 214 975 21 017 222 

1997 - 2007 (10 years) -0.3 -0.6 0.2 -0.3 1.4 1.3 

2002 - 2007 (5 years) 0.8 2.3 0.1 1.4 1.5 1.4 

2006 - 2007 


0.9 2.9 1.3 2.0 2.0 1.5 

% Population 16.6 54.1 29.3 100.0 N/A N/A 




Barkly region accounts for 2.9% of the NT’s population with 54% of the region’s 

population residing in Tennant Creek. 

The population of the region decreased by an average 0.3% per annum over the 

period 1997 - 2007, compared with 1.4% per annum growth for the NT. Over the last 

five years, however, the population has increased at an average of 1.4% per annum. 

Tennant Creek Balance sub-region was the only area within the region to grow over 

the last ten years, with an average of 0.2% population growth per annum. In the last 

five years however, Tennant Creek sub-region has grown strongly, at an average of 

2.3% per annum, well above the Territory average of 1.5% for that period. 

Strong growth of the major centre has seen the region’s population become more 

centralised with Tennant Creek accounting for 54% of the population in 2007, 

compared to 51% in 2001.







Table 4.69 provides general population statistics and characteristics for the Barkly region. 


Tennant 

Creek 

Tennant 

Creek 

Balance 

Barkly 


Tableland 

Age 

Median Age 

Gender (No.) 

24 31 24 27 31 37 

Male 520 1 465 805 2 790 99 370 9 799 250 

Female 

Gender (%) 

393 1 455 753 2 601 93 528 10 056 038 

Male 57.0 50.2 51.7 51.8 51.5 49.4 

Female 

Indigenous 

43.0 49.8 48.3 48.2 48.5 50.6 

Number 488 1 424 1 344 3 256 53 665 455 018 

Proportion (%) (b) 53.5 48.8 86.3 60.4 27.8 2.3 





The Barkly region, like the NT overall, has more males than females. 

The median age of the population varies across the sub-regions. Tennant Creek has 

an older population with a median age of 31, while in more remote sub-regions of 

Tableland and Tennant Creek Balance, the median age is 24 years. 

The median age of the population in the Barkly region was 27 in 2006, compared to 

26 in 2001. 

Just over 6% of the Territory’s Indigenous population resides in the region, 44% of 

which live in Tennant Creek. 

The highest concentration of the Indigenous population is in Tennant Creek Balance 

sub-region where 86% of the population is Indigenous. 

181 


182 





Table 4.70 provides a detailed age breakdown of the Barkly region, its sub-regions, the 



Tableland Tennant Creek Tennant Creek Balance 


0-14 228 25.0 745 25.5 459 29.5 

15-24 230 25.2 451 15.4 338 21.7 

25-34 135 14.8 437 15.0 284 18.2 

35-44 113 12.4 427 14.6 188 12.1 

45-54 100 11.0 408 14.0 146 9.4 

55-64 67 7.3 282 9.7 92 5.9 

65+ 40 4.4 170 5.8 51 3.3 

Total 913 100.0 2 920 100.0 1 558 100.0 

Barkly Region NT Australia 


0-14 1 432 26.6 47 607 24.7 3 937 210 19.8 

15-24 1 019 18.9 29 367 15.2 2 704 266 13.6 

25-34 856 15.9 32 057 16.6 2 676 394 13.5 

35-44 728 13.5 31 156 16.2 2 937 845 14.8 

45-54 654 12.1 26 478 13.7 2 762 521 13.9 

55-64 441 8.2 16 953 8.8 2 192 680 11.0 

65+ 261 4.8 9 283 4.8 2 644 371 13.3 

Total 5 391 100.0 192 901 100.0 19 855 287 100.0 



Tennant Creek has an older age profile than the other sub-regions, and a higher 

proportion of its population in the 55 and older age group than the NT overall. 

Unlike other remote areas of the NT, the Tableland sub-region has a relatively low 

proportion of Indigenous people in its population. The Tableland also has a young 

population profile, which is unusual for the non-Indigenous population in the NT. 



REPORT




Barkly Region 

10% 8% 6% 4% 2% 0% 

% Population 



The age pyramid for the Barkly region indicates that its population has a higher 

proportion of people aged 15-24 than the NT population does. 


85 + 

80-84 

75-79 

70-74 

65-69 

60-64 

55-59 

50-54 

45-49 

40-44 

35-39 

30-34 

25-29 

20-24 

15-19 

10-14 

5-9 

0-4 

0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 

% Population 

The Barkly region has experienced an overall population decline over the last 10 years. 

However, in the shorter-term (since 2002), the region has had population growth with 

Tennant Creek increasing at a faster rate than the NT overall. As a result, the region’s 

population has become more concentrated in Tennant Creek, where 54% of the 

population was located in 2007. 

The Barkly region has a relatively young profile, with a median age of 27 years. Nineteen 

percent of the region’s population is aged 15-24 years. The comparable figure for the NT 

is 15%. It is important that the young age structure of the region be taken into account in 

policy development. 

NT 

183 


184 




3. EDUCATION 






This section provides an educational profile of the Barkly region’s population and includes 

statistics on: 







Table 4.72 provides an education profile of the Barkly region, its sub-regions, the NT and 

Australia. The information is based on the highest level of schooling completed, and the 



Tableland Tennant Creek 

Tennant Creek 

Balance 

No. % No. % No. % 

School 

Other (c) 147 21.5 484 22.2 226 20.7 

Did Not Attend School 17 2.5 69 3.2 91 8.3 

Below Year 10 192 28.0 589 27.0 558 51.1 

Year 10 120 17.5 408 18.7 92 8.4 

Year 11 56 8.2 218 10.0 48 4.3 

Year 12 153 22.3 414 19.0 78 7.1 

Total 

Non-School 

685 100.0 2 182 100.0 1 093 100.0 

Higher Education (d) 46 6.7 260 11.9 43 3.9 

Certificate 99 14.5 310 14.2 37 3.4 

Other (e) 540 78.8 1 612 73.9 1 013 92.7 

Total 685 100.0 2 182 100.0 1 093 100.0 

REPORT




(continued) 


No. % No. % No. % 

School 

Other (c) 857 21.6 26 051 17.9 2 195 961 13.8 


Below Year 10 1 339 33.8 23 761 16.4 2 084 710 13.1 

Year 10 620 15.6 27 039 18.6 3 437 859 21.6 

Year 11 322 8.1 17 033 11.7 1 404 740 8.8 

Year 12 645 16.3 48 257 33.2 6 657 136 41.8 

Total 

Non-School 

3 960 100.0 145 295 100.0 15 918 080 100.0 

Higher Education (d) 349 8.8 26 456 18.2 3 612 776 22.7 

Certificate 446 11.3 25 018 17.2 2 662 780 16.7 

Other (e) 3 165 79.9 93 821 64.6 9 642 524 60.6 

Total 3 960 100.0 145 295 100.0 15 918 080 100.0 










The Barkly region has relatively low levels of education when compared to the NT 

and Australia. Only 40% of the region’s population has reached Year 10 or above at 

school compared to 64% for the NT and 72% for Australia. 

The region also has smaller proportions of people with higher education qualifications 

than the NT and Australia. 

The population in Tennant Creek Balance sub-region has the lowest levels of 

education in the region, with less than 20% of the population completing Year 10 or 

above at school. 

Just over 20% of the population in the region has a non-school qualification. 

The majority of these are Certificate III qualifications (39%) followed by Bachelor 

degrees (21%). 


The proportion of the population with a highest level of education of below Year 

10, has declined from 41% in 2001 to 38%. 

About 20% of the region’s population had a non-school qualification in 2006, 

compared to 17% in 2001. 


increased by 21% and 12% respectively over the periods 2001 - 2006. 

185 


186 






Barkly region, its sub-regions, the NT and Australia. These figures are categorised by the 



Tableland Tennant Creek 

Tennant Creek 

Balance 


Natural and 


0 0.0 12 1.2 4 1.1 

Information 

Technology 

0 0.0 3 0.2 0 0.0 



27 8.8 124 11.9 16 4.4 

Architecture 

and Building 

3 1.0 45 4.3 9 2.5 

Agriculture, 



48 15.7 22 2.1 6 1.7 

Health 13 4.2 72 6.9 6 1.7 

Education 12 3.9 88 8.5 21 5.8 

Management 

and Commerce 

14 4.6 77 7.4 6 1.6 

Society and Culture 9 2.9 88 8.5 8 2.2 

Creative Arts 3 1.0 13 1.3 0 0.0 



17 5.6 46 4.4 3 0.8 

Other (c) 160 52.3 448 43.2 282 78.1 

Total 306 100.0 1 038 100.0 361 100.0 

REPORT




(continued) 



Natural and 


17 1.0 1 644 2.2 225 008 2.7 

Information 

Technology 

3 1.2 1 381 1.8 220 977 2.6 



164 9.6 12 067 15.8 1 351 119 16.2 

Architecture 

and Building 

52 3.1 3 384 4.4 457 211 5.5 

Agriculture, 



81 4.8 2 009 2.6 169 039 2.0 

Health 90 5.3 5 884 7.7 703 163 8.4 

Education 110 6.5 5 499 7.2 619 099 7.4 

Management 

and Commerce 

109 6.4 9 032 11.8 1 353 241 16.2 


Creative Arts 14 0.8 1 526 2.0 252 743 3.0 



60 3.5 3 379 4.4 393 406 4.7 

Other (c) 893 52.4 24 061 31.5 1 871 355 22.4 

Total 1 703 100.0 76 367 100.0 8 361 814 100.0 







The Barkly region mirrored both the NT and Australia in that Engineering and Related 

Technologies was its most common area of highest qualification. 

Education along with Society and Culture were also among the most common, while 

Creative Arts and Information Technology were among the least. 

Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies, and Education were major areas of 

study in the sub-regions outside of Tennant Creek. 


The Barkly region’s population has a lower level of education than that of the rest of the 

NT. Since 2001, education levels in the region have increased and this should enable 

the region to be more productive and increase engagement with the labour market. 

However, there is still a significant disparity between both schooling and further education 

levels in the region and in the NT overall. 

187 


188 




















REPORT




Table 4.74 provides key labour force statistics for the Barkly region. 


Tennant 

Creek 

Tennant 

Creek 

Balance 

Barkly 


Tableland 

Workforce 

Working Age Population (b) 684 2 175 1 102 3 960 145 291 15 918 080 

Not in the Labour Force 174 660 553 1 386 37 149 5 271 120 

Participation Rate (%) 

Employed 

50.9 54.1 30.9 47.1 62.8 60.4 

Full-time 271 725 110 1 113 60 089 5 827 433 

Part-time 37 280 177 501 20 178 2 685 197 

Total (c) 329 1 094 316 1 747 87 179 9 104 185 


Population 

Employed CDEP 

48.1 50.3 28.7 44.1 60.0 57.2 

CDEP 20 87 179 293 5 365 14 500 


Unemployed 

6.1 8.0 56.6 16.8 6.2 0.2 

Looking for Full-time Work 13 35 18 66 2 718 310 581 

Looking for Part-time Work 6 48 6 52 1 286 193 221 

Total 19 83 24 118 4 004 503 802 


Population 

2.8 3.8 2.2 3.0 2.8 3.2 

Unemployment Rate (%) 


5.5 7.1 7.1 6.3 4.4 5.2 

Not Stated 162 338 209 709 16 959 1 038 973 


Population 

23.7 15.5 19.0 17.9 11.7 6.5 







189 


190 




The Barkly region has the second highest unemployment rate in the NT, and the 

lowest labour force participation rate. 

Within the Tennant Creek and Tableland sub-regions, Community Development 

Employment Projects (CDEP) account for less than 10% of employment, however in 

Tennant Creek Balance sub-region this proportion is much higher, 57% of employment. 

Tableland sub-region has an unexpectedly low proportion of CDEP employment (6%) 

given that 53% of its population is Indigenous. 

The participation rate for Tennant Creek Balance sub-region is 31%. This is much lower 

than the NT rate of 63%. 

The number of employed people in the region has fallen by 5.6% since 2001. During 

this period the NT overall has experienced growth of 4.1%. 


Chart 4.75 is a graphical representation of the labour force status of the population in 

the Barkly region. The percentage unemployed is the percentage of the total population 




Tableland 

Tennant Creek 

Tennant Creek Balance 

Barkly Region 

NT 

Australia 

29% 

50% 

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 






All of the sub-regions have participation rates below the NT average. 



REPORT 

49% 

44% 

60% 

57% 

2% 

3% 

2% 

4% 


50% 

3% 

25% 

3% 

35% 

30% 

26% 

33% 

24% 

19% 

18% 

17% 

12% 

7%




Chart 4.76 shows the age breakdown of the Barkly region’s labour force. 

Chart 4.76 Labour Force Status by Age, Barkly Region (2006) (a) (b) 


55 – 64 years 

45 – 54 years 

35 – 44 years 

25 – 34 years 

20 – 24 years 

15 – 19 years 

19% 

32% 






The Barkly region labour force participation rate follows expected patterns, with 


Compared to the NT, Barkly region has lower participation rates in all age groups 

except people aged 65 and over. 

The region’s youth (15-24 year olds), has a participation rate of 40% compared to NT 

youth which has a participation rate of 55%. 


0% 

41% 

50% 

46% 

52% 

52% 

3% 

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 

In 2006, there were 4 555 people of working age (15 years and older) in the Barkly region, 

accounting for 73% of the region’s population. This proportion has increased, from 69% 

in 1996. While the working age population has increased, engagement with the labour 

market has slowed between 2001 and 2006. 

Engagement with the labour market outside the major service centre of Tennant 

Creek town is varied. In Tennant Creek Balance, 29% of the working age population 

is employed (more than half in CDEP) while in the Tableland sub-region, 48% of the 

population is employed with a low uptake of CDEP. 

4% 

3% 

64% 

4% 


3% 

2% 

43% 

37% 

29% 

28% 

28% 

34% 

22% 

16% 

17% 

17% 

18% 

17% 

18% 

191 


192 












Table 4.77 provides a breakdown of the number of people employed by industry in the 

Barkly region, the NT and Australia. CDEP figures are provided alongside the region’s total 

figures to show the industries in which CDEP participants are employed. 

REPORT






Public Administration and 

Safety (excluding Defence) (d) 

162 415 23.7 2 731 13 970 16.0 6.0 




82 251 14.3 1 171 8 580 9.8 10.5 


Retail Trade 11 143 8.2 130 7 897 9.1 11.3 


Food Services 

0 121 6.9 7 5 644 6.5 6.3 

Construction 0 74 4.2 59 6 094 7.0 7.8 




8 36 2.1 80 2 628 3.0 3.1 

Mining 0 27 1.5 0 1 709 2.0 1.2 

Transport, Postal 

and Warehousing 

0 22 1.3 9 3 985 4.6 4.7 




Professional, Scientific and 

Technical Services 

0 13 0.7 30 3 983 4.6 6.6 



0 11 0.6 0 1 221 1.4 1.9 




0 8 0.5 3 1 292 1.5 1.7 

Electricity, Gas, Water 

and Waste Services 

3 7 0.4 33 524 0.6 1.0 

Defence (d) 0 3 0.2 0 4 862 5.6 0.7 

Not Defined (f) 14 72 4.1 709 2 813 3.2 2.6 

Total 293 1 751 100.0 5 364 87 180 100.0 100.0 










193 


194 




Public Administration and Safety (excluding Defence) is the largest industry in 

the Barkly region, accounting for 24% of employment. Much of this (39%) is 

attributable to CDEP. 

Agriculture accounts for 16% of the workforce and is the second largest industry 

grouping in the region. 

The region accounts for 2.0% of employment in the NT. Within the industry base 

of the NT, the Barkly region has a high proportion of workers in Agriculture (13% of 

employed persons in the NT who work in this industry are in the Barkly region) and a 

low proportion of workers in Manufacturing (0.2% of the industry is in the region). 



sub-sectors, for each sub-region and Barkly region total. The major industry groupings 



REPORT 

Tableland 


Industry 




Agriculture and Fishing Support Services 


6 1.8 





4 1.2 



Cafes, Restaurants and Takeaway Food Services 4 1.2



Tennant Creek 


Industry 









4 0.4 





Health Care and Social Assistance, nfd (d) 


17 1.5 





Preschool Education 3 0.3 



Industry 







3 0.9 





4 1.3 


195 


196 




REPORT 

Barkly Region 


Occupation 









4 0.2 


Agriculture and Fishing Support Services 6 0.3 

Agriculture, nfd (d) 3 0.2 

Nursery and Floriculture Production 


3 0.2 














Tableland: cattle/grain farming and local government administration 

Tennant Creek: local government administration, school education and state 

government administration 

Tennant Creek Balance: local government administration, cattle/grain farming 

and social assistance services.











Table 4.79 provides a breakdown of employment by occupation for the Barkly region, NT 

and Australia. CDEP figures are provided alongside the region’s total figures to show the 

occupations in which CDEP participants are employed. 




Managers 3 223 12.7 50 10 542 12.1 13.2 





56 222 12.7 845 10 910 12.5 8.8 

Clerical and Administrative 

Workers 

5 176 10.1 239 12 672 14.5 15.0 

Sales Workers 11 65 3.7 192 6 437 7.4 9.8 


and Drivers 

3 60 3.4 107 5 105 5.9 6.6 

Labourers 145 430 24.6 2 903 10 364 11.9 10.5 

Not Defined (d) 56 105 6.0 674 2 437 2.8 1.8 

Total 293 1 751 100.0 5 364 87 178 100.0 100.0 







The main occupations of employment in the Barkly region are: 


Professionals, with 15% of the workforce. 

This is consistent with the large agriculture industry and the high level of CDEP 

employment outside Tennant Creek. 

The region has a higher proportion of labourers than the NT overall. 

197 


198 





Table 4.80 shows the top two occupational categories for the Barkly region and 



REPORT 

Tableland 


Occupation 

Labourers 



Other Farm, Forestry and Garden Workers 14 4.2 

Labourers, nfd 6 1.8 


Domestic Cleaners 


4 1.2 

Cooks 27 8.1 


Gardeners 4 1.2 


Plumbers 3 0.9 

Tennant Creek 


Occupation 






Social Professionals 12 1.1 

Welfare, Recreation and Community Arts Workers 

Labourers 

11 1.0 

Cleaners and Laundry Workers, nfd 27 2.5 




Labourers, nfd 13 1.2





Occupation 

Labourers 






Fencers 

Managers 

9 2.8 



Health and Welfare Services Managers 5 1.6 

School Principals 4 1.3 

Chief Executives and Managing Directors 4 1.3 

Barkly Region 


Occupation 

Labourers 





Cleaners and Laundry Workers, nfd 31 1.8 

Labourers, nfd 


25 1.4 





Social Professionals 12 0.7 







The tables above show the main occupation groups in the region in more detail. 

Further analysis shows that the main occupations of employment, by sub-region, are: 

Tableland: livestock farm workers, cooks and livestock farmers 

Tennant Creek: recycling and rubbish collectors, livestock farmers and welfare 

support workers 

Tennant Creek Balance: welfare support workers, police, and cleaners/ 

laundry workers. 

199 


200 















7.1. Supply: School Education3 In 2007, the Barkly region had 1.0% of all NT Year 12 students - 16 out of a total of 1 565. 

The number of students in the region studying Year 12 is small and there is no clear trend 

in student numbers evident over time. Most (75%) of the Year 12 students in the region 

were Indigenous. 


Certificate of Education (NTCE) in that year. In 2007 there were seven eligible students in 

the Barkly region achieving a pass rate of 86% and producing six graduates. 












The number of VET students in the Barkly region from 2003 to 2007 is shown in Table 4.81. 




REPORT



Table 4.81 VET Students, Barkly Region (2003 - 2007) (a) 

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 

Barkly Region (a) (b) 729 584 764 881 1 208 

NT (c) 23 166 22 579 23 409 23 019 24 376 



(b) Students could be enrolled in more than one course/module and be trained in multiple locations within 

the region and the NT 


The Barkly region accounted for around 4.6% of VET students in the NT in 2007. 

This proportion has increased from 3.0% in 2003. The number of students studying 

in the region rose by 66% between 2003 and 2007, the highest growth for all regions 

in the NT. 

Table 4.82 shows the level of course for enrolled VET students in the Barkly region. 

Table 4.82 VET Students by Level of Course, Barkly Region (2007) (a) (b) 

Barkly Region NT 





Certificate II 389 15.9 8 262 22.5 

Certificate I 636 26.0 7 650 20.9 

Other (c) 1 178 48.2 9 396 25.6 

Total 2 446 100.0 36 653 100.0 



(b) Students could be enrolled in more than one course/module and be trained in multiple locations within 




For the Barkly region, VET participation is concentrated more in lower-level 

qualifications than is the case for the NT as a whole. Certificate I represents 26% of 

training in the region compared to 21% in the NT. Other courses (generally bridging 

courses) account for nearly half of all training in the region. 

Participation in Certificates III and IV, Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses is 

lower than in the NT overall. 

VET participation in the Barkly region is further profiled in Table 4.83, which shows student 

numbers by field of study. The numbers show where skills are being developed in the 

population. Only those fields with 1% or more of the total student numbers are shown. 

201 


202 




Table 4.83 VET Students by Field of Study, Barkly Region (2007) (a) (b) 

Barkly Region NT 


Education 438 17.9 2 736 7.5 


Building 175 7.2 1 451 4.0 

Agriculture 165 6.7 1 520 4.1 


Health 135 5.5 1 065 2.9 







First Aid 37 1.5 492 1.3 


Practical Computing Skills 37 1.5 129 0.4 


Mathematics 36 1.5 121 0.3 

Cookery 34 1.4 34 0.1 

Water and Sanitary Engineering 33 1.3 42 0.1 

Building Science and Technology 31 1.3 220 0.6 


Transport Engineering 27 1.1 65 0.2 

Computer Science 26 1.1 215 0.6 




(b) Students can be enrolled in more than one course/module and be trained in multiple locations within 



Education, Office Studies and Building were the most common areas of study in the 

Barkly region during 2007. 

Building and Construction, General Education and Training and Primary Industry were 

the industry groupings with the highest proportion of students. These industries align 

well with important employment and economic drivers in the region. 

REPORT





Course to Develop Knowledge Required to Obtain a Learners Permit 


Certificate II in Rural Operations. 

Four out of the top ten most-studied courses in the region were at the Certificate II 

level or above. 






Apprenticeship/traineeship statistics for the Barkly region are presented in Chart 4.84. The 

in training numbers are for 31 December each year and the commencements are total 

numbers for each calendar year, 2002 - 2007. 

Chart 4.84 Apprenticeships and Traineeships, Barkly Region (2002 - 2007) 

140 

120 

100 

80 

60 

40 

20 

0 

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 



In Training Commencements (a) 

There were 62 apprentice/trainee commencements in the region in 2007, a 

significant decrease of 53% from 133 in 2002. 

The region accounted for 2.2% of total commencements in the NT for 2007, which is 

down from 5.8% five years ago. 

Since 2002, the number of commencements, and students in training, has decreased 

steadily. This is opposite to the overall NT trend which has seen a steady increase. 

203 


204 





30% were in community services, health and education 

16% were in business and clerical 


12% were in primary industry. 

Business and clerical was the area of highest completions in 2007, whereas, 

historically, it has been primary industries. 


The number of jobseekers in the Barkly region, and the NT that are receiving 


Chart 4.85 Jobseekers, Barkly Region and NT (2004 - 2007) (a) (b) 

400 

350 

300 

250 

200 

150 

100 3 167 

Dec 04 


(c) 






(c) The increase in December 2007 is due to CDEP eligibility changes and the lifting of Remote Area 

Exemptions (RAE). 




Before the impact of changes in CDEP eligibility and the lifting of RAEs, unemployed 

jobseekers had started to trend down in the region. In the period September 2005 to 

2007, jobseekers in the region fell by 13%. For the same period, unemployed jobseeker 

numbers in the NT rose by 9%. 

REPORT 

Barkly Region LHS NT RHS 

12 167 

11 167 

10 167 

9 167 

8 167 

7 167 

6 167 

5 167 

4 167






Table 4.86 Jobseeker Characteristics (September 2007) (a) (b) (c) 


Duration 

Short-term 40 1 766 130 292 

Long-term 103 3 668 170 398 

Total 143 5 434 300 690 

% Long-term 72.0 67.5 56.7 






(c) Short-term income support duration is defined as less than 365 days, while long-term income support 


Nearly three quarters of jobseekers in the region were classified as long-term, that is in 


in the NT and 57% in Australia. 

Both long-term and short-term jobseekers have been declining in the period 

September 2005 to 2007. Short-term jobseekers decreased 23% while long-term 

jobseekers fell by 9%. This is in contrast to the NT overall, where short-term jobseekers 

fell marginally, while long-term jobseekers increased 14%. 




In December 2007, there were 207 DSP recipients in the region - 3.2% of NT total. 

The number of DSP recipients increased by an average of 3.6% per annum over 

the period December 2004 to 2007, a rate similar to that experienced in the NT 

overall (3.5%). 


arrangements to enable them to engage effectively with the labour market. Before 

the effects of CDEP changes, the Barkly Region had more DSP recipients than 

Jobseekers, both of which could provide a source of labour for the region. 




205 


206 





The Barkly region is characterised by low levels of education and engagement with 

the labour market when compared to other areas in the NT. Engagement with school 

education is limited, with students enrolled in Year 12 in the region representing 1.0% of NT 

enrolments. However, the VET system is providing skills for the labour market, with 4.6% of 

NT VET students training in the region. 

The areas of study in the VET system are closely aligned to the major employment and 

economic drivers in the region. Commencements for apprenticeships/traineeships and 

primary industry student completions have fallen in recent years, but there has been an 

increase in the number of business and clerical students. 












Labour demand in the Barkly region is profiled using the following indicators: 




The Barkly region occupation and industry profiles show the types of skills that were 



occupations in shortage in the Barkly region. 

The occupation and industry make-up of the Barkly region indicates which occupations 


Welfare Support Workers Registered Nurses 

Cooks Motor Mechanics 

Primary School Teachers Secondary School Teachers 




REPORT



Table 4.87 provides more detailed information on skill shortages by industry for the Barkly 

region. Part 1 shows the relative size of each industry (by employment) and Part 2 shows 

the highest employment industries and lists occupations suffering recruitment difficulty, or 

shortage, for each industry. 

Table 4.87 Skill Shortages by Selected Industries, Barkly Region (2008) (a) (b) (c) 

Part 1 


Industry 


Public Administration and Safety (excluding Defence) 415 23.7 

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing 280 16.0 



Retail Trade 143 8.2 

Part 2 






Accountants 



Child Carers 


Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Crop Farm Workers 

Cooks 







Child Carers 





Midwives 

207 


208 




Table 4.87 Skill Shortages by Selected Industries, Barkly Region (2008) (a) (b) (c) 

(continued) 

Part 2 


Health Care and Social Assistance Dental Assistants 


Cooks 








Child Carers 





Pharmacists 

Cooks 





(c) Only the highest employment categories are shown, selected categories do not represent total employment. 












REPORT



Internet and newspaper vacancies for the NT are registered on the Australian Jobsearch 


demand in the Barkly region 7 . In the year to July 2007, 757 jobs were advertised on 

JobSearch for the Barkly region. 


those occupations which account for 1% or more of the total number of advertised 

jobs are shown. 

Table 4.88 JobSearch Vacancy List, Barkly Region (2006/07) 






Cooks 47 6.2 





Construction Plant Operators 18 2.4 




Welfare and Community Workers 14 1.8 

Youth and Disability Workers 13 1.7 

Child and Youth Residential Carers 12 1.6 


Service Station Attendants 10 1.3 

Butchers and Slaughterers 9 1.2 


General Machine Operators 9 1.2 






so not all vacancies will appear in these figures. The full extent of coverage is not known and any figures should 

be used with caution. 

209 


210 




Interestingly, many of the occupations listed in the table are not currently identified 

as being in short supply in the NT or nationally. This may indicate that employers in the 

region look elsewhere for skilled labour and are advertising using alternative methods. 



13% were for labourers, factory and machine hands 


10% were on marketing and sales representatives. 


The number of employed people living in this region has fallen by 6% the five years to 

2006, whereas employment in the NT has grown by 3.9% over this period. 

Employment decline in the five years to 2006 has been evenly spread across industry 

groups, with Personal and Other Services declining the most (72 fewer workers) followed 

by Government Administration (36 fewer workers). 


industries. The concentrated and sustained employment growth in the NT is not mirrored 

in the region which has shown a decline in employment. With job opportunities and skill 

shortages in growth areas, such as Darwin, the Barkly region will find it difficult to retain 

skills in the face of increasing competition. 

REPORT


Northern Territory Regional Profi les - Central Region 

Central Region 


This regional snapshot provides information on the economic background of the Central 

region, including information on the cost of living. 


is shown below in Figure 4.89. The Central region is split into five sub-regions; Alice Springs, 

Hanson, Petermann, Sandover and Tanami. 


Kintore 

Kaltukatjara 

TANAMI 

Nyirripi 

Yuendumu 

Papunya 

Yulara 

CENTRAL REGION 

Willowra 

Anmatjere 

Ntaria 

Areyonga 

Laramba 

PETERMANN 

HANSON 

ALICE SPRINGS 

Amoonguna 

Titjikala 

Santa Teresa 

Ampilatwatja 

SANDOVER 

The Central region contains 19% of the Northern Territory’s (NT) population. Alice Springs 

is the major service centre for the region. 

211 


212 




Major industries in the region include mining, pastoralism, oil and gas, tourism, defence 

and the arts. Pine Gap Joint Defence Facility is located near Alice Springs and the 

region houses a significant number of American defence staff and families. The region 

is also home to major tourist attractions including Uluru, Kings Canyon and Indigenous 

arts and culture. 

More than 80% of the Territory’s gold and all its onshore oil and gas are also sourced 

from the region. Tanami Gold’s Coyote gold mine, on the border with Western Australia, 

is currently under construction and may provide significant employment opportunities in 

the region 1 . 

Tourism and innovation in the region is supported by a convention centre and the Desert 

Knowledge Precinct. The town is a ‘solar city’ and hosts the Centre for Appropriate 

Technology. There is also a range of educational facilities available, including these at 

tertiary level 2 . 


In December 2007, grocery prices in Alice Springs were the cheapest in the NT. Prices 

have risen by an average of 5.0% per annum since December 2005, the second lowest 

rate of growth for all regions surveyed in the NT 3 . 

In June 2008, fuel prices in Alice Springs were the second most expensive of all towns 

surveyed in the NT, the most expensive being Tennant Creek. Fuel prices in the NT had 

risen dramatically over the previous year and in Alice Springs they rose by 18% to 174.4 

cents per litre. Fuel prices in Alice Springs have risen by an average of 7% per year over 

the ten years to June 2008 4 . 

Property rental vacancy rates have declined in Alice Springs from a high of 8% in 

2004 to a low of 0.8% in March 2008 5 . This suggests prolonged, high-level demand for 

accommodation in the region. 

Central region is characterised by high petrol costs and relatively low grocery costs. 

Ongoing demand for accommodation, coupled with an expected increase in 

construction and mining activity, may drive the cost of living upwards. Competition from 

economic expansion in the Darwin area, and nationally, could make it difficult to both 

attract and retain workers in the region. 

2. POPULATION 




1 Budget 2007-08, Budget Paper, Regional Highlights, Central Australia, Northern Territory Treasury, May 2007 

2 Alice Springs Investment Opportunities, Department of Business, Economic and Regional Development, 2007 


4 Australian Automobile Association website, www.aaa.asn.au/issues/petrol.htm, accessed 12 may 2008 


REPORT



This section profiles the characteristics of the population in the Central region and 







rates for the Central region over the period 1997 - 2007. The ERP figures are calculated 





Alice 

Springs 


Hanson Petermann Sandover Tanami 

Central 


1997 25 559 1 982 2 474 2 491 4 477 36 983 186 912 18 517 564 

2002 26 362 1 946 2 845 3 906 4 267 39 326 199 442 19 652 562 

2006 26 194 2 077 2 717 4 452 4 119 39 559 210 674 20 701 488 

2007 26 305 2 112 2 739 4 552 4 180 39 888 214 975 21 017 222 


1997 - 2007 

(10 years) 

0.3 0.6 1.0 6.2 -0.7 0.8 1.4 1.3 

2002 - 2007 

(5 years) 

0.0 1.7 -0.8 3.1 -0.4 0.3 1.5 1.4 

2006 - 2007 0.4 1.7 0.8 2.2 1.5 0.8 2.0 1.5 


% Population 65.9 5.3 6.9 11.4 10.5 100.0 N/A N/A 




Central region accounts for 19% of the NT’s population with 66% of the region’s 

population residing in Alice Springs. 

The population of the region increased by an average 0.8% per annum over the 

period 1997 - 2007, compared with a 1.4% per annum increase for the NT. 

Sandover sub-region had the highest population growth in the region over the last ten 

years, with an average increase of 6% per annum. All other sub-regions grew slowly 

over this period, with the next highest rate being in Petermann at 1.0% per annum. 

The region’s population has become increasingly spread out geographically over 

the last ten years, with Alice Springs’ share of the population falling from 69% in 1997 

to 66% in 2007. 

213 


214 





The population statistics in the following sections are based on the ABS Census, place 

of usual residence. These are actual counts of population from the Census and differ 

from the ERP figures provided earlier. 

Table 4.91 provides general population statistics and characteristics for the 

Central region. 


Alice 

Springs Hanson Petermann Sandover Tanami 

REPORT 

Central 


Age 

Median Age 

Gender (No.) 

33 25 28 25 24 30 31 37 

Male 11 791 839 1 189 2 008 1 719 17 546 99 370 9 799 250 

Female 

Gender (%) 

12 097 932 1 202 1 759 1 774 17 764 93 528 10 056 038 

Male 49.4 47.4 49.7 53.3 49.2 49.7 51.5 49.4 

Female 

Indigenous 

50.6 52.6 50.3 46.7 50.8 50.3 48.5 50.6 

Number 4 495 1 551 1 046 3 350 3 086 13 528 53 665 455 018 

Proportion (%) 

(b) 

18.8 87.6 43.7 88.9 88.3 38.3 27.8 2.3 





Central region, unlike the NT, has more females than males. 

The median age of the population varies across the sub-regions. Alice Springs has 

the oldest population, with a median age of 33, while Tanami has the youngest 

population with a median age of 24 years. 

The median age of the population in the Central region was 30 in 2006, up from 

29 in 2001. 

Over 25% of the Territory’s Indigenous population reside in the region, 68% of whom 

live in Alice Springs. 

The sub-region with the highest proportion of Indigenous people is Sandover where 

nearly 90% of the population is Indigenous. This sub-region is also the Central region’s 

fastest growing area. Further information on the Indigenous population can be found 

in Chapter 5 Indigenous Employment Profile.




Table 4.92 provides a detailed age breakdown of the Central region, its sub-regions, the 



Alice Springs Hanson Petermann Sandover 

Age No. % No. % No. % No. % 

0-14 5 575 23.3 569 32.1 456 19.1 1 136 30.2 

15-24 3 376 14.1 321 18.1 534 22.3 679 18.0 

25-34 3 723 15.6 305 17.2 553 23.1 721 19.1 

35-44 4 117 17.2 222 12.5 337 14.1 524 13.9 

45-54 3 745 15.7 155 8.8 244 10.2 387 10.3 

55-64 2 144 9.0 94 5.3 177 7.4 188 5.0 

65+ 1 208 5.1 105 5.9 90 3.8 132 3.5 

Total 23 888 100.0 1 771 100.0 2 391 100.0 3 767 100.0 

Tanami Central Region NT Australia 

Age No. % No. % No. % No. % 

0-14 1 032 29.5 8 768 24.8 47 607 24.7 3 937 210 19.8 

15-24 752 21.5 5 662 16.0 29 367 15.2 2 704 266 13.6 

25-34 565 16.2 5 867 16.6 32 057 16.6 2 676 394 13.5 

35-44 442 12.7 5 642 16.0 31 156 16.2 2 937 845 14.8 

45-54 385 11.0 4 916 13.9 26 478 13.7 2 762 521 13.9 

55-64 186 5.3 2 789 7.9 16 953 8.8 2 192 680 11.0 

65+ 131 3.8 1 666 4.7 9 283 4.8 2 644 371 13.3 

Total 3 493 100.0 35 310 100.0 192 901 100.0 19 855 287 100.0 



Alice Springs has an older age profile than other sub-regions, and is the only area in 

the region with age demographics that are comparable to those of the NT overall. 

The sub-regions with the highest proportion of Indigenous people are also the 


215 


216 








10% 8% 6% 4% 2% 0% 

% Population 



Central region has a similar demographic profile to that of the NT. 

The region clearly shows the influence of a large, relatively young, Indigenous 

population. The 25-34 years of age cohort are the largest 10-year age group in 

the region. 


Central region has grown more slowly than both the NT and Australia over the last ten 

years. In the five years to 2007, population growth has averaged only 0.3% per annum. 

Sub-regionally however, there has been strong population growth outside Alice Springs, 

with an average annual rate of 6% in Sandover since 1997. 

Over the period 2001 to 2006, the region’s population has declined in all five-year 

age groups, up to age 44 years (with the exception of the 20-24 age group) but has 

increased in all groups from 45 to 69 years. This suggests that, while the region’s workforce 

is growing, it is not young workers who are increasing its numbers, but rather it is mature 

age worker who are moving into the area. 

REPORT 

85 + 

80-84 

75-79 

70-74 

65-69 

60-64 

55-59 

50-54 

45-49 

40-44 

35-39 

30-34 

25-29 

20-24 

15-19 

10-14 

5-9 

0-4 

NT 

0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 

% Population



3. EDUCATION 






This section provides an educational profile of the Central region’s population and 








Table 4.94 provides an education profile of the Central region, its sub-regions, the NT and 

Australia. The information is based on the highest level of schooling completed, and the 




No. % No. % No. % No. % 

School 

Other (c) 3 025 16.5 210 17.5 399 20.6 712 27.0 

Did Not 

Attend School 

291 1.6 193 16.1 68 3.5 231 8.8 

Below Year 10 2 164 11.8 502 41.9 503 25.9 1 139 43.3 

Year 10 3 424 18.7 129 10.8 272 14.0 255 9.7 

Year 11 2 538 13.9 51 4.3 135 7.0 128 4.9 

Year 12 6 871 37.5 113 9.4 563 29.0 168 6.4 

Total 

Non-School 

18 313 100.0 1 198 100.0 1 940 100.0 2 633 100.0 

Higher 

Education (d) 

4 121 22.5 61 5.1 248 12.8 94 3.6 

Certificate 3 436 18.8 81 6.8 297 15.3 154 5.8 

Other (e) 10 756 58.7 1 056 88.1 1 395 71.9 2 385 90.6 

Total 18 313 100.0 1 198 100.0 1 940 100.0 2 633 100.0 

217 


218 





(continued) 


No. % No. % No. % No. % 

School 

Other (c) 233 9.5 4 579 17.2 26 051 17.9 2 195 961 13.8 

Did Not Attend 

School 

157 6.4 940 3.5 3 154 2.2 137 674 0.9 

Below Year 10 1 526 62.0 5 834 22.0 23 761 16.4 2 084 710 13.1 

Year 10 229 9.3 4 309 16.2 27 039 18.6 3 437 859 21.6 

Year 11 120 4.9 2 972 11.2 17 033 11.7 1 404 740 8.8 

Year 12 197 8.0 7 912 29.8 48 257 33.2 6 657 136 41.8 

Total 

Non-School 

2 462 100.0 26 546 100.0 145 295 100.0 15 918 080 100.0 

Higher 

Education (d) 

144 5.8 4 668 17.6 26 456 18.2 3 612 776 22.7 

Certificate 160 6.5 4 128 15.6 25 018 17.2 2 662 780 16.7 

Other (e) 2 158 87.7 17 750 66.8 93 821 64.6 9 642 524 60.6 

Total 2 462 100.0 26 546 100.0 145 295 100.0 15 918 080 100.0 










Nearly a third (30%) of the Central region’s population has completed Year 12. The 

comparable figure for the NT is 33%. However, 22% of the population in the region has 

not completed Year 10, compared to only 16% in the NT overall. 

Higher education qualifications are held by the same proportion of the Central 

region’s population as they are in the NT population. 

The population in Alice Springs sub-region has a higher level of education than those 

in other sub-regions. Petermann sub-region again outperformed the others with the 

proportion of its population having non-school qualifications double that of other 

areas outside Alice Springs. 

About 16% of the population in the Hanson sub-region did not attend school at all. 

This proportion was also high in Sandover (9%). In other sub-regions, attendance 

was better but the levels of attainment were low. In Tanami sub-region 62% of the 

population had not reached Year 10. 

More than a third of the population in the Central region has a non-school 

qualification. The majority of these are Certificate III qualifications (33%) followed by 

Bachelor degrees (26%). 

REPORT




The proportion of the population who had not attained Year 10 declined from 

28% in 2001 to 26% in 2006 

The number of people who have completed Year 12 increased by 2.8% over the 

five years to 2006 

Half of the region’s population had a non-school qualification in 2006, compared 

to 44% in 2001 


increased by 9% and 10% respectively, over the period. 


Table 4.95 shows the field of study for people with a non-school qualification in the 

Central region, its sub-regions, the NT and Australia. These figures are categorised by the 





Natural and 


217 2.1 0 0.0 13 1.4 6 0.6 

Information 

Technology 

155 1.5 4 1.1 6 0.6 5 0.5 

Engineering 

and Related 

Technologies 

1 453 14.0 19 5.4 92 9.8 35 3.7 

Architecture 

and Building 

Agriculture, 



521 5.0 8 2.3 31 3.3 16 1.7 

221 2.1 6 1.7 47 5.0 28 2.9 

Health 1 110 10.7 10 2.8 40 4.3 41 4.3 

Education 905 8.7 44 12.5 35 3.7 48 5.1 

Management 

and Commerce 

1 224 11.8 7 2.0 116 12.3 32 3.4 

Society 

and Culture 

1 077 10.3 13 3.7 57 6.1 28 2.9 

Creative Arts 269 2.6 7 2.0 27 2.9 13 1.4 


and Personal 

Services 

566 5.4 8 2.3 90 9.6 6 0.6 

Other (c) 2 688 25.8 227 64.3 386 41.1 692 72.8 

Total 10 406 100.0 353 100.0 940 100.0 950 100.0 

219 


220 





(continued) 



Natural and 


4 0.7 240 1.8 1 644 2.2 225 008 2.7 

Information 

Technology 

0 0.0 169 1.3 1 381 1.8 220 977 2.6 

Engineering 

and Related 

Technologies 

58 10.3 1 657 12.5 12 067 15.8 1 351 119 16.2 

Architecture 

and Building 

Agriculture, 



11 2.0 587 4.4 3 384 4.4 457 211 5.5 

16 2.9 318 2.4 2 009 2.6 169 039 2.0 

Health 58 10.3 1 259 9.5 5 884 7.7 703 163 8.4 

Education 56 10.0 1 088 8.2 5 499 7.2 619 099 7.4 

Management 

and Commerce 

41 7.3 1 420 10.7 9 032 11.8 1 353 241 16.2 

Society 

and Culture 

44 7.8 1 219 9.2 6 501 8.5 745 453 8.9 

Creative Arts 10 1.8 326 2.5 1 526 2.0 252 743 3.0 


and Personal 

Services 

20 3.6 690 5.2 3 379 4.4 393 406 4.7 

Other (c) 248 44.2 4 237 32.1 24 061 31.5 1 871 355 22.4 

Total 561 100.0 13 210 100.0 76 367 100.0 8 361 814 100.0 







For the Central region, Engineering and Related Technologies was the highest area of 

study, the same as in the NT and Australia. 

Management and Commerce along with Health were among the highest areas 

of study. The least studied fields were Information Technology and Natural and 

Physical Sciences. 

Sub-regionally, Engineering and Related Technologies was not the most studied field. 

Management and Commerce along with Education and Health were the major 

areas of study outside of Alice Springs. 

REPORT




The Central region has a similar education profile to that of the rest of the NT but 

generally lower levels of education achievement than those of Australia overall. Since 

2001, education levels in the region have increased which should enable the population 

to become more productive and increase its engagement with the labour market. 


The labour force is defined as the total number of people who are either in work, or 

who are actively seeking employment and are available to start work immediately. 















Table 4.96 provides key labour force statistics for the Central region. 

221 


222 





Alice 

Springs Hanson Petermann Sandover Tanami 

REPORT 

Central 


Workforce 

Working Age 

Population (b) 

18 316 1 196 1 931 2 630 2 466 26 539 145 291 15 918 080 

Not in the 

Labour Force 

3 708 622 567 1 474 1 339 7 710 37 149 5 271 120 

Participation 

Rate (%) 

Employed 

69.6 35.9 53.7 35.2 38.3 60.6 62.8 60.4 

Full-time 8 946 165 801 276 366 10 554 60 089 5 827 433 

Part-time 2 602 179 116 369 351 3 617 20 178 2 685 197 

Total (c) 12 425 377 1 006 709 790 15 307 87 179 9 104 185 



Employed 

CDEP 

67.8 31.5 52.1 27.0 32.0 57.7 60.0 57.2 

CDEP 96 125 68 320 424 1 033 5 365 14 500 

% of 

Employment 

Unemployed 

0.8 33.2 6.8 45.1 53.7 6.7 6.2 0.2 

Looking for 

Full-time Work 

197 40 24 168 73 502 2 718 310 581 

Looking for 

Part-time Work 

123 12 6 50 81 272 1 286 193 221 

Total 320 52 30 218 154 774 4 004 503 802 



1.7 4.3 1.6 8.3 6.2 2.9 2.8 3.2 

Unemployment 

Rate (%) 


2.5 12.1 2.9 23.5 16.3 4.8 4.4 5.2 

Not Stated 1 863 145 328 229 183 2 748 16 959 1 038 973 



10.2 12.1 17.0 8.7 7.4 10.4 11.7 6.5 







Central region has the second lowest unemployment rate in the NT, and the second 

highest labour force participation rate (after Darwin and Regions).



Within Alice Springs, Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) account 

for less than one percent of employment. However, sub-regionally this proportion 

is much higher, with, for example, more than half (54%) of employment in Tanami is 

through CDEP. 

Interestingly, Petermann sub-region has an unexpectedly low proportion of CDEP 

employment (7%) given that 44% of its population is Indigenous. 

The number of employed people in the region has fallen by 3.6% since 2001. During 

this same period the NT has experienced growth of 4.1% overall. 



Central region. The percentage unemployed is the percentage of the total population 




Alice Springs 

Hanson 

Petermann 

Sandover 

Tanami 


NT 

Australia 

32% 

27% 

32% 

52% 

58% 

60% 

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 


8% 

68% 

4% 52% 

12% 

57% 3% 

33% 

7% 





6% 

Only Alice Springs has a participation rate that is above the NT average. 

Sandover sub-region has the highest proportion of unemployed people, with 8% of 

the working age population unemployed. This sub-region also has the lowest levels of 

employment and participation in the Central region. 



2% 

56% 

55% 

29% 

2% 20% 

17% 

10% 

9% 

3% 29% 

10% 


3% 

26% 

12% 

7% 

223 


224 





Chart 4.98 shows the age breakdown of the Central region’s labour force. 

Chart 4.98 Labour Force Status by Age, Central Region (2006) (a) (b) 


55 – 64 years 

45 – 54 years 

35 – 44 years 

25 – 34 years 

20 – 24 years 

15 – 19 years 

18% 

38% 






The Central region labour force participation rate follows expected patterns, with 


Compared to the NT, Central region has higher participation rates in the age groups 

55-64 and 65+, but lower for all other age groups. 

The region’s youth (15-24 year olds), has an unemployment rate of 9%. This is higher 

than the NT overall which has 8% youth unemployment. 


1% 

59% 

53% 

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 

In 2006, there were 29 889 people of working age (15 years and older) in the Central 

region, accounting for over 80% of the region’s population. This proportion has increased 

from 79% in 1996. 

The region has a relatively strong labour market and employment growth 

concentrated in the service centre of Alice Springs. Outside Alice Springs, CDEP is 

the major source of employment. Engagement with the labour market is lower and 

there is high unemployment. 

The Central region is experiencing relatively slow population growth, with negative growth 

among its younger population balanced by an influx of older people into the region. 

Population growth is concentrated outside Alice Springs in areas that do not have the 

same level of economic activity or job opportunities. 

REPORT 

72% 

67% 

59% 

5% 

69% 


4% 

1% 

4% 

3% 

30% 

30% 

1% 

47% 

26% 

21% 

18% 

13% 

10% 

9% 

10% 

11% 

12% 

10%











Table 4.99 provides a breakdown of the number of people employed by industry in the 

Central region, the NT and Australia. CDEP figures are provided alongside the region’s 



Central Region NT Australia 




580 2 541 16.6 2 731 13 970 16.0 6.0 



163 1 935 12.6 1 171 8 580 9.8 10.5 

Retail Trade 44 1 530 10.0 130 7 897 9.1 11.3 


Food Services 

0 1 422 9.3 7 5 644 6.5 6.3 

Education and Training 24 1 420 9.3 143 7 537 8.6 7.7 

Construction 20 879 5.7 59 6 094 7.0 7.8 



3 869 5.7 30 3 983 4.6 6.6 


Warehousing 

0 703 4.6 9 3 985 4.6 4.7 




4 469 3.1 80 2 628 3.0 3.1 





Defence (d) 0 247 1.6 0 4 862 5.6 0.7 



3 225 1.5 3 1 292 1.5 1.7 



0 204 1.3 0 1 221 1.4 1.9 


225 


226 





(continued) 



Mining 0 167 1.1 0 1 709 2.0 1.2 


Services 

3 64 0.4 33 524 0.6 1.0 

Not Defined (f) 130 460 3.0 709 2 813 3.2 2.6 

Total 1 031 15 309 100.0 5 364 87 180 100.0 100.0 










Public Administration and Safety (excluding Defence) is the largest industry in the 

Central region, accounting for 17% of employment. 

Health Care and Social Assistance employs 13% of the workforce and is the second 

largest industry in the region. 

The region accounts for 18% of employment in the NT. Within the industry base of the 

NT, the Central region has high proportion of workers in: 

Accommodation and Food Services (25% of employed persons in the NT who 

work in this industry are in the Central region) 

Health Care and Social Assistance (23%) 

Arts and Recreation Services (22%) 

and low proportion in: 

Mining (10%) 

Manufacturing (10%). 



sub-sectors, for each sub-region and Central region total. The major industry groupings 


REPORT




Alice Springs 


Industry 









125 1.0 





Allied Health Services 

Retail Trade 

137 1.1 






Hanson 


Industry 






14 3.7 


Fruit and Tree Nut Growing 

Retail Trade 

12 3.1 


Fuel Retailing 9 2.4 


227 


228 




REPORT 

Petermann 


Industry 





Cafes, Restaurants and Takeaway Food Services 21 2.1 

Food and Beverage Services, nfd (d) 


6 0.6 





Transport, Postal and Warehousing 

11 1.1 

Road Passenger Transport 34 3.4 

Air and Space Transport 33 3.3 

Scenic and Sightseeing Transport 9 0.9 

Sandover 


Industry 







19 2.6 





Health Care and Social Assistance, nfd (d) 


5 0.7 

Sheep, Beef Cattle and Grain Farming 68 9.5



Tanami 


Industry 








8 1.0 






Mining 

11 1.4 


Other Mining Support Services 9 1.1 

Mining, nfd (d) 6 0.8 



Industry 









187 1.2 





Child Care Services 

Retail Trade 

163 1.1 












229 


230 






Alice Springs: state government administration, school education 

and accommodation 

Hanson: local government administration, cattle/grain farming and civic, 

professional interest group services 

Petermann: accommodation, local government administration and travel 

agency and tour arrangement services 

Sandover: local government administration, cattle/grain farming and social 


Tanami: local government administration, social assistance services and 

school education. 









Table 4.101 provides a breakdown of employment by occupation for the Central region, 

NT and Australia. CDEP figures are provided alongside the region’s total figures to show 

the occupations in which CDEP participants are employed. 

REPORT






Managers 4 1 790 11.7 50 10 542 12.1 13.2 

Professionals 49 3 010 19.6 296 15 841 18.2 19.8 

Technicians and Trades Workers 16 1 960 12.8 66 12 870 14.8 14.4 



152 2 232 14.5 845 10 910 12.5 8.8 

Clerical and 


47 2 106 13.9 239 12 672 14.5 15.0 

Sales Workers 40 1 159 7.5 192 6 437 7.4 9.8 


and Drivers 

30 766 5.0 107 5 105 5.9 6.6 

Labourers 607 1 880 12.2 2 903 10 364 11.9 10.5 

Not Defined (d) 90 408 2.7 674 2 437 2.8 1.8 

Total 1 031 15 311 100.0 5 364 87 178 100.0 100.0 







The main occupations of employment in the Central region are: 

Professionals, with 20% of the workforce 

Community and Personal Service Workers, with 15% of the workforce. 

This is consistent with the large public service and health industry sectors within 

the region. 

The region has a higher concentration of professionals than the NT overall. 


Table 4.102 shows the top two occupational categories for the Central region and 


231 


232 





REPORT 

Alice Springs 


Occupation 






Generalist Medical Practitioners 86 0.7 

Accountants 


77 0.6 



Bookkeepers 185 1.5 



Hanson 


Occupation 

Labourers 






Kitchenhands 

Managers 

11 2.9 



Crop Farmers 11 2.9 

General Managers 6 1.6 

School Principals 6 1.6



Petermann 


Occupation 



Gallery, Museum and Tour Guides 55 5.5 


Hotel Service Managers 25 2.5 



Labourers 

12 1.2 

Housekeepers 48 4.8 





Sandover 


Occupation 

Labourers 






Garden and Nursery Labourers 


17 2.4 

Visual Arts and Crafts Professionals 28 3.9 


School Teachers, nfd (d) 14 2.0 


Private Tutors and Teachers 6 0.8 

233 


234 




REPORT 

Tanami 


Occupation 

Labourers 




Other Miscellaneous Labourers 26 3.3 




16 2.0 





Police 12 1.5 



Occupation 






Generalist Medical Practitioners 93 0.6 

Accountants 

Community and Personal Service workers 

79 0.5 




Gallery, Museum and Tour Guides 181 1.2 

Police 180 1.2 











Alice Springs: sales assistants, registered nurses, general clerks, retail managers 

and receptionists 

Hanson: rubbish collectors, livestock farmers and education aides 

Petermann: Gallery/Museum/Tour Guides, housekeepers, waiters and chefs 

Sandover: labourers, rubbish collectors and livestock farmers 

Tanami: rubbish collectors, aged and disabled carers, and labourers. 












7.1. Supply: School Education6 In 2007, the Central region had 15% of all NT Year 12 students - 237 out of a total of 

1 565. The number of students in the region studying Year 12 varies year to year, but 

the general trend is one of an increase in numbers. Indigenous students accounted 

for 15% of students, which is low considering that Indigenous people constitute 38% of 

the population. 


Certificate of Education (NTCE) in that year. In 2007 there were 212 eligible students in 

the Central region achieving a pass rate of 88% and producing 186 graduates. 

Over the period 2005 - 2007, the proportions of students studying various subjects have 

been fairly constant. Health and Personal Development, Society and Environment and 

English were the most studied in Year 12 over that period. 









235 


236 








The number of VET students in the Central region from 2003 to 2007 is shown in Table 4.103. 

Table 4.103 VET Students, Central Region (2003 - 2007) (a) 

REPORT 

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 

Central Region (a) (b) 6 030 5 457 5 222 5 786 5 833 

NT (c) 23 166 22 579 23 409 23 019 24 376 






The Central region accounted for around 22% of NT VET students in 2007. The number 

of students studying in the region is less than it was in 2003, but it has been rising since 

a low in 2005. 

Table 4.104 shows the level of course for enrolled VET students in the Central region. 

Table 4.104 VET Students by Level of Course, Barkly Region (2007) (a) (b) 

Central Region NT 




Certificate III 1 506 17.9 7 907 21.6 


Certificate I 2 494 29.7 7 650 20.9 

Other (c) 1 811 21.6 9 396 25.6 

Total 8 394 100.0 36 653 100.0 








http://www.dest.gov.au/sectors/training_skills/default2.htm, accessed 12 May 2008



For the Central region, VET participation is more concentrated in lower-level 

qualifications than is the case for the NT as a whole. Certificates I and II represent 

54% of training in the region compared to 43% in the NT. 

Participation in Certificates III and IV, Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses is lower 

than in the NT overall. 

VET participation in the Central region is further profiled in Table 4.105, which shows 

student numbers by field of study. The numbers show where skills are being developed in 

the population. Only those fields with 1% or more of the total student numbers are shown. 

Table 4.105 VET Students by Field of Study, Central Region (2007) (a) (b) 

Central NT 


Food and Hospitality 1 096 13.1 2 127 5.8 

Education 603 7.2 2 736 7.5 



Health 450 5.4 1 065 2.9 



Building 411 4.9 1 451 4.0 





223 2.7 958 2.6 




First Aid 186 2.2 492 1.3 




Electrical and Electronic Engineering 


169 2.0 734 2.0 


Sport and Recreation 148 1.8 784 2.1 




Banking, Finance and Related Fields 108 1.3 326 0.9 

Agriculture 92 1.1 1 520 4.1 







237 


238 




700 

600 

500 

400 

300 

200 

10 

0 

Food and Hospitality, Education and Office Studies were the most commonly studied 

fields during 2007 by the Central region population. 

Community Services and Health, along with Tourism and Hospitality were the 

industries with the highest proportions of students. These industries are important 

employment and economic drivers in the region. 


Certificate II in Hospitality (Operations) 



Certificate I in Visual Arts and Contemporary Craft. 

Six out of the top ten most studied courses in the region were at the Certificate I level. 






Apprenticeship/traineeship statistics for the Central region are presented in Chart 4.106. 



Chart 4.106 Apprenticeships and Traineeships, Central Region (2002 - 2007) 

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 



REPORT 






The region accounted for 20% of total commencements in the NT for 2007, which is 

an increase from 18% five years ago. 





12% were in community services, health and education. 

Apprenticeships, in particular, often take a number of years to complete and the 

large numbers of students in training suggests that the supply of skills will increase in 

the coming years. 


The number of jobseekers in the Central region, and the NT that are receiving 


Chart 4.107 Jobseekers, Central Region and NT (2004 - 2007) (a) (b) 

3 000 

2 500 

2 000 

1 500 

1 000 

500 2 660 

Dec 04 


(c) 


Central Region LHS NT RHS 







14 660 

12 660 

10 660 

8 660 

6 660 

4 660 

239 


240 







Before the impact of changes in CDEP eligibility, and the lifting of RAEs, the number 

of jobseekers was increasing in the region. In the period September 2005 to 2007, the 

number of jobseekers in the region grew by 55%. For the same period, unemployed 

jobseeker numbers in the NT rose by 9%. 





REPORT 


Duration 

Short-term 358 1 766 130 292 

Long-term 1 007 3 668 170 398 

Total 1 365 5 434 300 690 

% Long-term 


73.8 67.5 56.7 

Indigenous 90.3 75.6 10.6 


Gender (%) 

9.7 24.4 89.4 

Male 55.1 59.3 61.8 

Female 

Age (%) 

44.9 40.7 38.2 

15-19 10.1 10.2 12.3 

20-24 16.7 16.0 17.1 

25-44 54.9 52.1 41.1 

45+ 18.3 21.7 29.5 











In the Central region, approximately 34% of the population’s workforce (that is those 

aged over 15 years old) is Indigenous, however this cohort accounts for 90% of 

jobseekers in the region. 

Nearly three quarters of jobseekers in the region were classified as long-term, that is in 


in the NT and 57% in Australia.



7.5. Supply: Disability Support Pension Recipients 8 

Many people with disabilities who are registered with Centrelink to receive the Disability 



In December 2007, there were 1 424 DSP recipients in the region - 22% of the NT total. 

The number of DSP recipients increased by an average of 5.4% per annum over the 

period December 2004 to 2007, a rate similar to that experienced in the NT overall. 


arrangements to enable them to engage effectively with the labour market. Before 

the effects of CDEP changes, the Central Region had more DSP recipients than 

Jobseekers, both of which could provide a source of labour for the region. 




The Central region has a relatively low supply of skills to the labour market when 

compared to the NT overall. VET students in the region represented 22% of all VET 

students in the NT in 2007. This figure was 25% in 2003 indicating a slowing of supply of 

VET skills in the region. In 2006, the region had approximately 20% of Territorians aged 

15-19, but only 15% of Year 12 graduates. The number of Indigenous Year 12 students was 

disproportionately low as well. 

Notwithstanding a relatively slow rate of supply, the skills that are being developed in the 

region align well with the industries of employment and skill shortage, including tourism/ 

hospitality, construction, automotive and health areas. 



economics attempts to understand the pattern of employment through an examination 

of the supply of labour services (workers) and the demand for labour services (employers). 







Labour demand in the Central region is profiled using the following indicators: 




241 


242 





The Central region occupation and industry profiles show the types of skills that were 



occupations in shortage in the Central region. 

The occupation and industry make-up of the Central region indicates which occupations 


Registered Nurses Secondary School Teachers 

Primary School Teachers Aged and Disabled Carers 

Motor Mechanics Welfare Support Workers 



Table 4.109 provides more detailed information on skill shortages by industry for the 

Central region. Part 1 shows the relative size of each industry (by employment) and Part 

2 shows the highest employment industries and lists occupations suffering recruitment 


Table 4.109 Skill Shortages by Selected Industries, Central Region (2008) (a) (b) (c) 

Part 1 


Industry 



Health Care and Social Assistance 1 935 12.6 

Retail Trade 1 530 10.0 

Accommodation and Food Services 1 422 9.3 

Education and Training 1 420 9.3 

Part 2 






Accountants 



Child Carers 



REPORT



Table 4.109 Skill Shortages by Selected Industries, Central Region (2008) (a) (b) (c) 

(continued) 

Part 2 



Child Carers 





Midwives 



Cooks 








Pharmacists 

Cooks 

Accommodation and Food Services Waiters 

Bar Attendants and Baristas 

Chefs 

Cafe and Restaurant Managers 

Cooks 

Hotel and Motel Managers 

Hotel Service Managers 

Licensed Club Managers 

Caravan Park and Camping Ground Managers 

Other Hospitality Workers 





Child Carers 








243 


244 

















demand in the Central region 10 . In the year to July 2007 nearly 4 000 jobs were advertised 

on JobSearch for the Central region. 


those occupations which account for 1% or more of the total number of advertised jobs 

are shown. 


so not all vacancies will appear in these figures. The full extent of coverage is not known and any figures 

should be used with caution. 

REPORT



Table 4.110 JobSearch Vacancy List, Central Region (2006/07) 











Chefs 83 2.1 





Cooks 64 1.6 



Delivery Drivers 60 1.5 


Nurses Aides and Personal Care Assistants 49 1.2 

Welfare and Community Workers 48 1.2 



Security Officers and Guards 45 1.1 



Interestingly, many of the occupations listed in the table are not currently identified 

as being in short supply in the NT or nationally. This may indicate that employers in the 

region look elsewhere for skilled labour and are advertising using alternative methods. 





10% were for clerks, receptionists and secretaries. 

245 


246 





The number of employed people living in this region has declined by 3.7% over the five 

years to 2006, whereas employment in the NT has grown by 3.9% over this period. 

Government Administration and Property and Business Services had the largest growth 

in the number of jobs between 2001 - 2006, with 644 and 232 more workers respectively. 

Employment decline in the period was relatively evenly spread, with Accommodation 

Cafes and Restaurants declining the most (235 fewer workers) followed by Transport and 

Storage (228 fewer workers). 


industries. The concentrated and sustained employment growth in the NT is not mirrored 

in the region which has shown a decline in employment. With job opportunities and skill 

shortages in growth areas, such as Darwin, the Central region will find it difficult to retain 

skills and face increasing competition. Research shows that businesses in Alice Springs 

are confident of growth, and are experiencing difficulty in recruiting, highlighted by a 

significant number of vacant positions at any given time 11 . 

11 Alice Springs Economic Profile, Department of Business and Employment, 2008 

REPORT

Chapter 4 - Department of Business

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?