Contrary to popular belief (see Job Stats Good News), the recent growth in employment in Tasmania has not been driven by the burgeoning tourism sector (see bottom of the article for an explanation of the tourism sector for employment purposes).
In the three month to February 2015, employment declined overall by 438 jobs. Employment growth was dominated by the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector (3,605 more mainly full time jobs), health care and social assistance (2,944 more jobs) and transport, postal and warehousing (2,149 more mainly full time jobs) sectors. Employment has declined over the same period in public administration and safety (3,323 less jobs), retail trade (2,953 less mainly full time jobs) and accommodation and food services (1,370 less mainly part time jobs).
Since February 2014, there are now 8,806 more Tasmanians in employment. This growth has been led by retail (2,600 more mainly part time jobs), other services (1,859 mainly part time jobs) and construction (1,797 mainly full time jobs). However, employment has declined in accommodation and food services (3,366 less mainly part time jobs), mining (1,521 less mainly full time jobs) and public administration and safety (644 less mainly part time jobs).
Compared with five years ago, employment in Tasmania is higher by 6,551 with the greatest gains experienced in education and training (3,835 jobs), transport, postal and warehousing (3,473 jobs) and other services (3,145 jobs). Employment is lower than five years ago in public administration and safety (3,766 jobs), manufacturing (3,697) and construction (2,243 jobs).
The change in employment in Tasmania over the last three months, 12 months and five years for each industry sector is provided below. Importantly, the change in the composition of employment by industry sector has a direct impact on Tasmania's productivity performance, as I have previously explained here.
In the three month to February 2015, employment declined overall by 438 jobs. Employment growth was dominated by the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector (3,605 more mainly full time jobs), health care and social assistance (2,944 more jobs) and transport, postal and warehousing (2,149 more mainly full time jobs) sectors. Employment has declined over the same period in public administration and safety (3,323 less jobs), retail trade (2,953 less mainly full time jobs) and accommodation and food services (1,370 less mainly part time jobs).
Since February 2014, there are now 8,806 more Tasmanians in employment. This growth has been led by retail (2,600 more mainly part time jobs), other services (1,859 mainly part time jobs) and construction (1,797 mainly full time jobs). However, employment has declined in accommodation and food services (3,366 less mainly part time jobs), mining (1,521 less mainly full time jobs) and public administration and safety (644 less mainly part time jobs).
Compared with five years ago, employment in Tasmania is higher by 6,551 with the greatest gains experienced in education and training (3,835 jobs), transport, postal and warehousing (3,473 jobs) and other services (3,145 jobs). Employment is lower than five years ago in public administration and safety (3,766 jobs), manufacturing (3,697) and construction (2,243 jobs).
The change in employment in Tasmania over the last three months, 12 months and five years for each industry sector is provided below. Importantly, the change in the composition of employment by industry sector has a direct impact on Tasmania's productivity performance, as I have previously explained here.
Source: ABS, Labour Force, Australia, Detailed, Quarterly, Feb 2015, Cat. No. 6291.0.55.003
The Tourism Sector:
While industry sectors are defined on the basis of the goods and services which they mainly produce, the tourism industry is defined according to the status of the consumer. That is, it is the characteristics of the consumer that determine whether the production is included within the scope of tourism. The Tourism Satellite Account provides a means by which the economic aspects of tourism can be drawn out and analysed separately using the structure of the main industry sectors where at least 25 per cent of the total output of the product must be consumed by visitors.The industry sector sub-divisions included for employment purposes include: Accommodation, cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services, clubs, pubs, taverns and bars, rail transport, road transport and motor vehicle hiring, taxi transport, other road transport, motor vehicle hiring, air, water and other transpot, travel agency and tour operator services,cultural services, casinos and other gambling services, sports and recreation services, other sports and recreation services, retail trade, other retail trade, automotive fuel retailing, education and training
While industry sectors are defined on the basis of the goods and services which they mainly produce, the tourism industry is defined according to the status of the consumer. That is, it is the characteristics of the consumer that determine whether the production is included within the scope of tourism. The Tourism Satellite Account provides a means by which the economic aspects of tourism can be drawn out and analysed separately using the structure of the main industry sectors where at least 25 per cent of the total output of the product must be consumed by visitors.The industry sector sub-divisions included for employment purposes include: Accommodation, cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services, clubs, pubs, taverns and bars, rail transport, road transport and motor vehicle hiring, taxi transport, other road transport, motor vehicle hiring, air, water and other transpot, travel agency and tour operator services,cultural services, casinos and other gambling services, sports and recreation services, other sports and recreation services, retail trade, other retail trade, automotive fuel retailing, education and training
