People - Adjustment - Agriculture and the regional workforce
Agriculture and the regional workforce
Background
One of the major influences upon the adjustment strategies of farmers is the availability of off farm employment. This may provide a means of leaving agriculture, or more likely, a means of remaining within agriculture through supplementation of farm income. This is discussed in detail in a later section (see page 60). Recent research both in Australia and overseas is suggesting that regions with a high level of economic dependence upon agriculture are likely to experience greater than average population decline (Economic Research Service 2000; Garnaut et al. 2001; Rasheed 2000).
Data source
Data was sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Population and Housing Census for 1996 via the integrated Regional Database and customised tables.
Indicator construction
The indicator is the number of persons in the labour force stating their main occupation as farmer or farm manager, as a percentage of the number of persons in the labour force of the Statistical Local Area.
Observations
In 1986 the primary industry workforce was 3.4 per cent of the total Australian workforce. This fell to 2.3 per cent by 1996. Figure 1 portrays the percent of the workforce employed in primary industry in 1986. Agricultural employment dominates the inland of eastern Australia and the wheat belt of West Australia. Where it is not a major sector of the workforce, agriculture needs to compete against other land users who will often be in a position to outbid for land. On the eastern coastal fringe amenity uses will be a major competitor. In the rangelands of West Australia the major employer is mining. There the mining industry is purchasing pastoral leases surrounding mining developments.
Figure 1 Percentage of workforce employed in primary industry by Statistical Local Area in 1986
Click here to view map
Before you download
Most publications are downloadable as PDF files. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view PDF files.
If you are unable to access a publication, please contact us to organise a suitable alternative format.
Key
Links to an another web site
Opens a pop-up window