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Closing the Gap Annual Data Compilation Report July 2021

Dashboard snapshots

Socio-economic outcome area 8

Strong economic participation and development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities

TARGET 8

By 2031, increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 25-64 who are employed to 62 per cent

Dashboard snapshot: The data below are the most recent at the time of preparing the July 2021 report. Please go to the dashboard to access the current data.

Nationally in 2016, 51.0 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 25–64 years were employed (figure CtG8.1).

There are no new data since the baseline year of 2016.

Figure CtG8.1 displays the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous people (aged 25 to 64 years) who are employed. The aim under Closing the Gap is to increase the proportion for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from a 2016 baseline value of 51 per cent to a target value of 62 per cent by 2031.

Target data specifications

Target 8: Increase the proportion of people who are employed

Outcome:

Strong economic participation and development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities.

Target:

By 2031, increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 25-64 who are employed to 62 per cent.

Indicator:

The proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 25-64 years who are employed.

Measure:

The measure is defined as:

Numerator — number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 25-64 years who are employed

Denominator — total number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the population aged 25-64 years

and is presented as a percentage.

Target established:

National Agreement on Closing the Gap July 2020

Latest dashboard update:

23 June 2021

Indicator type:

Target

Interpretation of change:

A high or increasing proportion is desirable. An increase from the baseline year is an improvement.

Data source:

Name: ABS Census of Population and Housing, Census Table Builder (Basic)

Frequency: Five-yearly

Documentation (links): www.abs.gov.au/census

Data provider:

Provider name: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Provider area: Census

Baseline year:

2016

Target year:

2031

Disaggregations:

State and territory and Australia, by Indigenous status

Computation:

Numerator divided by Denominator multiplied by 100

Counting rules

Data are for all Australian residents enumerated in the Census that reported having a usual residence in Australia.

Geographical variables are based on a person’s place of usual residence.

Includes (both numerator and denominator):

  • people who were employed full-time (worked 35 hours or more), part-time, or who were employed but were away from work (did not work any hours in the week prior to Census night or did not state their number of hours worked)
  • Australian total includes Other Territories

Excludes (both numerator and denominator):

  • people for whom labour force status was ‘not stated’ or unknown or inadequately described
  • overseas visitors
  • people for whom Indigenous status was not stated.

Extraction

Census Table Builder (Basic) – Employment, Income and Education: INGP X Main ASGS (UR) X LFSP X AGE5P

Data quality considerations:

Data values have been randomly adjusted using perturbation to avoid the release of confidential data.

Future reporting:

Additional disaggregations required for future reporting:

  • Remoteness areas
  • Socioeconomic status of the locality
  • Disability status
  • Gender
  • Age group
  • Level of education
  • Type of employment – part-time versus full-time.

Supporting indicators

Driver

  • Highest level of educational attainment
  • Long term health and disability status
  • Caring responsibilities

Contextual information

  • Employment by occupation
  • Employment by industry
  • Median equivalised gross household income
  • Median personal income
  • Labour force participation
  • Self-managed business owners
  • Progress towards parity

The Productivity Commission acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures, Country and Elders past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices or names of people who have passed away.