Unemployment: A Measure of People Who Are A Part of the Labour Force Who Do Not Work

Calculating unemployment

Unemployment: A measure of people who are a part of the labour force who do not work.

To be not classified as unemployed, a person must:

• Not have worked for money at all during the reference week
• Be actively seeking work
• Not have worked for one hour on a family farm during the reference week
• Be able to begin work during the reference (the week in which the survey is completed)

As a result, there are many people who may consider themselves to be unemployed, but who do not show up in the statistics. To find these figures, the ABS conducts regular surveys of Australian households. Contact is made with 0,7% of all households in Australia to determine the number of people who are in the labour force, and the number of those who are unemployed.

Types of unemployment;

Cyclical unemployment – this is unemployment that occurs due to fluctuations in the business cycle.

Structural unemployment – on the other hand, structural unemployment is associated with the supply side factors in the Australian economy.

Seasonal unemployment - Unemployment that occurs due to the change in season

Frictional unemployment – this is the situation, which a person is between jobs.

Hard core unemployment – some people are unlikely to receive work even though they may desire a position.

Hidden unemployment – This refers to those who do not have a job and who would like to get a job.

Disguised unemployment – In this situation the person involved does have a job, and yet they are still not considered to be fully employed because they are either working less than they would like each week or they are working in a position in which skills that they have are not being fully utilized.

Unemployment 4.8

1. To be classified as unemployment a person must be trying to find work but have so far been unsuccessful.