30 March 2016

PDF version [839KB]

Gregory O'Brien
Statistics and Mapping Section

 

Contents

Executive summary
Introduction
Key Indicators
Data Sources
Historical Data

 

Chapter 1: Labour Market

1.1 Employment
1.2 Unemployment
1.3 Labour force
1.4 Long-term unemployed
1.5 Youth unemployment
1.6 Industrial disputes

Chapter 2: Wages and Prices

2.1 Average weekly ordinary time earnings
2.2 Real average weekly ordinary time earnings
2.3 Male total average weekly earnings
2.4 Female total average weekly earnings
2.5 Total average weekly earnings
2.6 Real total average weekly earnings
2.7 Wage price index
2.8 Consumer price index

Chapter 3: State Accounts

3.1 Real gross state product
3.2 Real gross state product per capita
3.3 Labour productivity

Chapter 4: Business Conditions

4.1 Value of retail sales
4.2 Passenger vehicle sales
4.3 Dwelling approvals
4.4 Business investment
4.5 Bankruptcies

Chapter 5: Housing

5.1 Lending for owner occupied housing
5.2 Home loan size

Chapter 6: Public Sector Finances

6.1 State government net debt
6.2 State government fiscal balance
6.3 State government taxation revenue

Chapter 7: Exports

7.1 International merchandise exports

Chapter 8: Social Statistics

8.1 Population
8.2 Dependency ratio
8.3 Births
8.4 Apparent school retention rates
8.5 General practice bulk billing

Glossary

Introduction

The purpose of this paper is to present a range of economic and other statistical indicators for the states and territories of Australia. To facilitate comparisons, indicators are presented in relative terms such as growth rates, percentages, or proportions of gross state product, so comparisons can be made using equivalent measures.

This publication updates the Parliamentary Library’s State Statistical Bulletin 2012–13 published in 2014. This publication is a companion to the Monthly Statistical Bulletin which contains Australia-wide data only, but on a more frequent basis.

A glossary of social, demographic and economic terms used in the tables is provided at the end of this publication.

Key Indicators

Real gross state product [3.1]

Real gross state product (GSP) in Australia grew in all jurisdictions in 2013-14. Rates of growth varied substantially with the Northern Territory (6.5 per cent) and Western Australia (5.5 per cent) continuing to show strong growth, while the ACT (0.7 per cent), Tasmania (1.2 per cent) and South Australia (1.3) showed lower growth. The most populous states, NSW (2.1 per cent), Victoria (1.7 per cent) and Queensland (2.3 per cent) were all slightly below the Australian average (2.5 per cent).

Real gross state product per capita [3.2]

Gross state product (GSP) per capita in 2013–14 ranged from $48,453 in Tasmania, to $100,455 in Western Australia, compared with the Australian gross domestic product per capita of $66,907. The ACT ($92,615) and the Northern Territory ($87,187) joined Western Australia as performing above the national average, while South Australia ($56,761) and Victoria ($59,394) reported lower than average numbers alongside Tasmania. The gap between the most productive and the least productive states grew again over 2013–14 with Western Australia (2.6 per cent) and the Northern Territory (4.8 per cent) showing the highest growth rates and the ACT (-0.9 per cent), Victoria (-0.2 per cent) and South Australia (0.4 per cent) showing the lowest growth rates in GSP per capita.

Unemployment rate [1.2]

The unemployment rate increased in all the states, while both the ACT (3.8 per cent) and NT (4.5 per cent) recorded declines. The unemployment rate reflected the differences between the states in recent real GSP growth, with Tasmania reporting the highest unemployment rate (7.7 per cent), followed by South Australia (6.7 per cent) which saw a particularly dramatic increase over the financial year from 5.8 per cent in 2012–13. The most populous states all recorded increases, with NSW increasing to 5.7 per cent from 5.2 per cent in 2012–13, Victoria increasing to 6.2 per cent from 5.7 per cent in 2012–13, and Queensland increasing to 6 per cent from 5.9 per cent in 2012–13. Western Australia also increased from a lower base, to 4.8 per cent from 4.4 per cent in 2012–13.

Consumer price index (CPI) [2.8]

The increase in CPI in 2013–14 was relatively stable across the capital cities ranging from 2.2 per cent in Canberra to 3 per cent in Perth. The weighted average across the capital cities was 2.7 per cent. The rate of price increases in all capitals increased in 2013–14 compared to 2012–13.

Labour productivity [3.3]

All states and territories reported a decrease in labour productivity in 2013–14, based on GSP per hour worked, with the exceptions of WA and the NT. Labour productivity ranged from $289.50 per hour worked in Tasmania to $475.20 per hour worked in Western Australia, with an average of $344.30 across Australia.

Retail sales [4.1]

Retail sales increased in all states and territories in 2013–14, ranging from a 1.5 per cent increase in WA to a 6.9 per cent increase in Tasmania. Across Australia retail sales increased 4.6 per cent.

Data Sources

Data sources are listed at the bottom of the page for each indicator. All data is from an original ABS series unless otherwise indicated as a trend or seasonally adjusted series.

Historical Data

Long-term data series for every table in this paper and for the Parliamentary Library’s companion publication, the Monthly Statistical Bulletin[1], are available electronically and can be found on the Parliamentary Library’s Monthly Statistical Bulletin page.

Note: This link can only be accessed by Senators, Members and parliamentary staff.

Glossary

Apparent school retention rate. The number of full-time school students in a designated level/year of education expressed as a percentage of their respective cohort group (which is either at the commencement of their secondary schooling or Year 10). For a discussion of ‘apparent’ retention rates compared to actual retention rates, see the ABS source publication, Schools, Australia, 2014 (cat. no. 4221.0) explanatory notes.

Average weekly earnings. Average gross (before tax) earnings of employees.

Average weekly ordinary time earnings. Weekly earnings attributed to award, standard or agreed hours of work.

Bankruptcies. Bankruptcies and Administration Orders under Parts IV and XI of the Bankruptcy Act 1966.

Business investment. Private gross fixed capital formation for machinery and equipment; non-dwelling construction; livestock; and intangible fixed assets.

Consumer price index. A measure of change in the price of a basket of goods and services from a base period. Changes in the consumer price index are the most commonly used measures of inflation.

Dependency ratio. Ratio of the economically inactive to economically active population. Shows the number of children aged 0–14 years and persons aged 65 years and over, per 100 persons aged 15–64 years.

Employed persons. Persons aged 15 and over who, during a period of one week, worked for one hour or more for pay or worked for one hour or more without pay in a family business or on a family farm.

General government sector. Government departments and other entities that provide largely non-market public services and are funded mainly through taxes and other compulsory levies.

General government sector net debt. Selected liabilities (deposits held plus proceeds from advances plus borrowing) minus selected assets (cash and deposits plus investments plus advances outstanding) of the general government sector.

General government sector fiscal balance. The financing requirement of the general government sector. A positive sign, or fiscal surplus, indicates a net lending position; a negative sign, or fiscal deficit, indicates a net borrowing position.

General practice bulk billing rate. The percentage of general practitioner attendances (excluding practice nurse) that are bulk billed.

Gross domestic product. The total market value of goods and services produced within Australia, after deducting the cost of goods and services used up in the process of production but before deducting for depreciation.

Gross state product. Equivalent to gross domestic product except it refers to production within a state or territory rather than to the nation as a whole.

Gross state product—chain volume measures. Also known as real gross state product, this is a measure used to indicate change in the actual quantity of goods and services produced within a state or territory.

Gross state product per capita. The ratio of the chain volume measure of gross state product to an estimate of the resident population in the state or territory.

Job vacancy. A job available for immediate filling and for which recruitment action has been taken.

Job vacancy rate. The number of job vacancies expressed as a percentage of the number of employee jobs plus the number of job vacancies.

Labour force. The employed plus the unemployed.

Labour force participation rate. The number of persons in the labour force expressed as a percentage of the civilian population aged 15 years and over.

Labour productivity. Gross state product (chain volume measures) per hour worked, all sectors (that is, market and non-market sectors).

Long-term unemployed. Persons unemployed for a period of 52 weeks or more.

Male total average weekly earnings. Weekly ordinary time earnings plus weekly overtime earnings of all male employees. This measure of earnings is used in the process of benchmarking pensions.

Real average weekly earnings. Average weekly earnings adjusted for inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index.

Total fertility rate. The average number of children females will bear during their lifetime.

Turnover. Includes retail sales; wholesale sales; takings from repairs, meals and hiring of goods; commissions from agency activity; and net takings from gaming machines. Turnover includes the Goods and Services Tax.

Unemployed persons. Persons aged 15 and over who, during a period of one week, were not employed but had actively looked for work in the previous four weeks and were available to start work.

Unemployment rate. The number of unemployed persons expressed as a percentage of the labour force.

Wage price index. A measure of change in the price of labour (that is, wages, salaries and overtime) unaffected by changes in the quality or quantity of work performed.

Youth unemployment. Number of 15–24 year olds looking for full-time work.

Youth unemployment rate. Number of 15–24 year olds looking for full-time work expressed as a percentage of the full-time labour force in the same age group.

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