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Source: The image is an aerial view of the Country of Baiyungu, Thaianyji and Yinigurdira peoples showing Cape Range National Park and adjoining Ningaloo Marine Park.
We acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of Country throughout Australia and acknowledge their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to the people, their cultures and to Elders, past, present and emerging.
Introduction
First Nations people make diverse and important contributions to Australia’s workforce and are leading the way at the pinnacle of many sectors but unacceptable gaps persist in education and employment outcomes at the population level. First Nations people continue to face additional barriers to work and study compared to other Australians.
Jobs and Skills Australia has used administrative data to piece together new information to aid conversations about supporting First Nations people to thrive in Australia’s workforce. Previously data of this nature has only been available every five years through the census.
Employment
The gap is in the favour of First Nations people when it comes to the bounce back of the employment index post COVID-19. While employment losses were higher early in the pandemic the number of First Nations people in employment rose again more quickly than in the wider workforce. The rise in employment in the Public Administration sector and lower reliance in hospitality jobs has contributed to this positive impact.
First Nations and non-Indigenous employment index from February 2020 to May 2022
Source: MADIP 2022: Single Touch Payroll (STP) data, ABN information sourced from the ABS Business Register
The difference between First Nations and non-Indigenous employment is significant but less so for females than males. For example the difference was 17 per cent for First Nations females compared to 23 per cent for First Nations males aged 15-24.
Difference between First Nations and non-Indigenous employment rate for gender by age
Source: MADIP: DOMINO (2022), STP (2022).
There is a mixed story when it comes to the occupations of First Nations people and their growth prospects into the future. Occupations such as Aged and Disabled Carers and Education Aides are expected to experience healthy growth. On the other hand, some occupations like Sales Assistants are likely to experience minimal growth in the future. The report shows how people in these occupations can build on their current skills to move into growth roles.
Most common occupations of First Nations people
Source: MADIP 2021: ATO Personal Income Tax (PIT) (19-20 financial year).STP (2022)
Contract, Program and Project Administrators, a common public sector occupation, was among the top five growing occupations for First Nations people, expanding by 42% between 2017 and 2022, compared to 27% growth for non-Indigenous people.
Percentage growth in employment for Contract, Program and Project Administrators between 2017 and 2022
Source: MADIP 2021: ATO Personal Income Tax (PIT) (19-20 financial year).STP (2022)
Education
Our analysis indicated First Nations tertiary educational attainment was lower than for non-Indigenous people and this gap increased with remoteness. Access to education and opportunity is likely a factor in this.
On the positive side, First Nations people with qualifications in high-demand fields were likely to be employed and to be working in a role directly relevant to their study. For example 71% of First Nations people who studied Education were employed in an occupation which utilised these skills.
First Nations and non-Indigenous people working in occupations related to their studies
Source: MADIP Census (2016), Total VET Activity (2017-2020), HEIMS (2017-2019), ATO Tax Records (2019-20), JEDI Occupation-Field of Education concordance, Occupation – Field of Education concordance.
On the other hand, First Nations people who had studied Information Technology were unlikely to be working in this field. This was likely because over a third had completed Certificate II level training or below, which is insufficient for many entry-level jobs in the sector.
Level of education for people who had studied an IT qualification
Source: MADIP Census (2016), Total VET Activity (2017-2020), HEIMS (2017-2019), ATO Tax Records (2019-20), JEDI Occupation-Field of Education concordance, Occupation – Field of Education concordance.
Analysis based on administrative data has its limitations, including size and complexity, and the inability to measure important skills like cultural knowledge and resilience. When interpreting results it is important to note many First Nations people face individual and systemic barriers which affect their education and employment outcomes. These barriers may be complex and can compound on one another and may be invisible in available data. The report sets out to measure outcomes however further research is needed to understand why those outcomes occur.
We hope the insights in this report will spark collaborative conversations between First Nations communities, service providers, industry and government to promote better outcomes for our First Nations students and workers.