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The Bureau of Statistics has simply launched a brand new set of knowledge from the 2021 census. The primary set – launched in June 2022 – coated subjects together with age, intercourse, faith, unpaid work and nation of start.
The second set, launched on Wednesday, offers insights into the sorts of jobs Australians have (and if they’ve a job), how Australians journey to work (and in the event that they nonetheless do), and their instructional {qualifications}.
There may be lots to digest. I’ll concentrate on a few fascinating outcomes:
variations within the varieties of jobs held by women and men,
variations within the instructional {qualifications} of women and men.
Essentially the most female and male jobs
Males accounted for round 99% of Australia’s bricklayers and stonemasons, plumbers, sheetmetal trades employees, carpenters and joiners, roof tilers and concreters in 2021.
Girls accounted for 97% or extra of Australia’s midwives, early childhood lecturers, dental assistants, private assistants and wonder therapists.
However the segregation is turning into weaker over time.
One frequent measure is the Duncan index of dissimilarity. It data the proportion of feminine employees who must change their occupations to ensure that feminine illustration to be even throughout all occupations.
I’ve calculated this measure utilizing census knowledge from 1966 as much as 2021, updating work I accomplished with Jeff Borland as much as 2011.
Learn extra:
The 2021 Australian census in 8 charts
The encouraging information is that segregation is declining, and declined additional up to now two censuses. Having mentioned that, the occupational variations are nonetheless massive.
Again in 1966, almost two-thirds of ladies would have needed to change occupations with the intention to be unfold throughout occupations as males are. By 2021, the proportion had fallen to shut to half.
As girls joined the workforce in higher numbers from 1966 to 2021, the proportion of ladies in most broad occupational teams grew.
However the development has differed by the kind of job. The proportion of ladies in managerial occupations grew from round 18% in 1966 to just about 40% in 2021.
The proportion in skilled occupations grew from 35 to 56%. In technical and trades occupations, it solely grew from 8 to 17%.
Learn extra:
But once more, the census exhibits girls are doing extra house responsibilities. Now could be the time to spend money on interventions
Some latest will increase (from 2006 to 2021) within the proportion of ladies in particular supervisor {and professional} occupations stand out. These embody vets (from 46% to 66%), dentists (31% to 47%), barristers (22% to 38%), faculty principals (50% to 65%) and inner medical specialists (32% to 47%).
However some skilled occupations have gone the opposite manner. The proportion of ladies working as monetary sellers fell from 41% to 31%. The proportion of ladies working as physiotherapists fell from 71% to 64%.
Extremely educated younger girls
The growing shares of ladies in skilled occupations is matched by growing training attainment.
The proportion of females aged of their 30s with a bachelor’s diploma or greater qualification was one half in 2021. That is strikingly greater than each the proportion of males in that age group with a bachelor’s diploma or greater (about 38%) and the proportion of older females with levels, which was 11% for females over 75.
This distinction signifies how quickly feminine college training has grown.
Feminine college graduates now outnumber male college graduates in all ages group under 70.
However the proportion of males with certificates and diplomas is greater than the proportion of females throughout all age teams from 20 up.
That is mirrored within the still-low proportion of females in technical and trades occupations.
Extra to discover
Gender variations in jobs and training are simply two of the numerous methods the census can assist us perceive Australia.
Each 5 years it presents researchers and the curious with so much to discover, together with modifications over time.
A couple of years again the five-yearly census was dealing with the axe. It could be nice if it continued to offer these insights for many years to come back.
Learn extra:
The gender qualification hole: girls ‘over-invest’ in office capabilities
Michael Coelli receives funding from the Australian Analysis Council. He has additionally accomplished some evaluation work for AI Group.
