ACT Residents, Getting Older and Working Longer

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released its latest expose on the characteristics of the ACT.

In the 12 months ending August 2010, there were an estimated 75,700 ACT residents aged 55 years and over, making up 26% of the ACT civilian population. Just over 40% of them (or 30,500 people) were participating in the labour force in the 12 months ending August 2010. People aged 55 years and over made up 15% of the total labour force, up from around 9% a decade earlier. The participation rate of ACT residents aged 55 years and over has increased from 32% to 40% over the last eight years.

Over the past decade, the labour force participation rates among older males and females in the ACT have been increasing steadily. From the 12 months ending August 2000 to the 12 months ending August 2010, the labour force participation rate among older males has increased from 40% to 48%, while for females it has increased from 26% to 35%.

From the 12 months ending August 2000 to the 12 months ending August 2010, the number of older people employed in the Public administration and safety industry in the ACT more than tripled.

See the full report at the ABS website