Communication Services
Age by Industry
Age by Occupation
Age by Education
Age by Working Arrangements
Age by Industry Trends
Age by Industry
The average age (mean) of the Communication Services industry is 38.8 years. The
chart below displays the age distribution of workers in Communication Services.
The largest proportion of workers are in the 25 to 29 year age group (14.5 per
cent), followed by 30 to 34 years (14.3 per cent).
AGE BY INDUSTRY
Communication Services
Age grouping
ABS (2001) Labour Force Australia
Projections of the age profile of the Communication Services industry against the age profile of the population in ten years time, shows that there could be considerable variation between these two profiles. Most noticeable is the deviation after 20 to 24 years and 55 years and over age groups, demonstrating a higher proportional concentration of people aged 25 to 54 years compared to the Australia population.
COMMUNICATION SERVICES
Workforce Population Age Profile Year 2004
Age by Occupation
The oldest employees within Communication Services are Labourers and Related
Workers, aged 47 years on average and Intermediate Production and Transport
Workers, whose average age is 43.9 years. The youngest groups Intermediate
Clerical, Sales and Service Workers, aged on average 33.5 years. The
occupational by age distribution experienced within Communication Services is
dissimilar to most other industry sectors.
AGE BY OCCUPATION
Communication Services
Occupation
ABS (2001) Labour Force Australia
Age by Education
The level and currency of post-secondary qualifications held by workers within Communication Services demonstrates the ability of the industry to sustain its productivity levels into the future. Almost half of all workers in Communication Services have not post-secondary education. The majority of the workers, who do hold a post-secondary qualification, have a certificate level qualification (21.2 per cent). There is also a high take up of Bachelor Degrees, particularly amongst younger people aged 15 to 44 years (13.9%). This reflects the emerging focus of highly skilled technology based jobs within the industry. Almost two-thirds of workers aged between 15 to 44 years have completed their post-secondary qualifications within the last 14 years. In comparison only 16.6% of older workers completed within this period.
| Highest Qualification | 15 to 44yrs | 45yrs and over | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postgraduate Degree Level | 2.9% | 1.4% | 2.4% |
| Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate Level | 1.5% | .8% | 1.3% |
| Bachelor Degree Level | 13.9% | 7.3% | 11.7% |
| Advanced Diploma and Diploma Level | 8.8% | 7.3% | 8.3% |
| Certificate Level | 20.0% | 23.8% | 21.2% |
| No Post-secondary Education | 47.5% | 50.9% | 48.6% |
| Other | 5.4% | 8.4% | 6.4% |
| Total | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Year completed qualification | 15 to 44yrs | 45yrs and over | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before 1971 | 32.9% | 10.2% | |
| 1971-1980 | 7.3% | 37.1% | 16.5% |
| 1981-1985 | 11.1% | 4.8% | 9.2% |
| 1986-1990 | 17.1% | 8.6% | 14.5% |
| 1991-1995 | 26.3% | 9.0% | 21.0% |
| 1996-1997 | 11.8% | 1.4% | 8.6% |
| 1998-1999 | 14.1% | 4.3% | 11.1% |
| 2000-2001 | 12.2% | 1.9% | 9.0% |
| Total | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% |
Age by Working Arrangements
The working arrangements of employees within Communication Services are quiet variable, with only approximately one in five workers aged 45 years and over and one in four workers aged 15 to 44 years employed on a standard 40 hour week basis. Approximately 40 per cent of the workforce within Communication Services work for less than 40 hours a week. A significant proportion of workers in this industry are also employed for more than 40 hours a week (36 per cent). Working beyond the standard 40 hour week, raises questions about the sustainability of workers as they age.
Table: Weekly Hours Worked by Age
| Year completed qualification | 15 to 44yrs | 45yrs and over | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-15 hours | 4.7% | 5.0% | 4.8% |
| 16-24 hours | 5.3% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| 25-34 hours | 6.5% | 9.7% | 7.6% |
| 35-39 hours | 23.5% | 23.6% | 23.5% |
| 40 hours | 24.8% | 18.8% | 22.8% |
| 41-48 hours | 17.0% | 14.7% | 16.2% |
| 49 or more hours | 18.2% | 22.5% | 19.6% |
| Total | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% |
Age by Industry Trends
Continuous change in technology and innovation within the Communication Services sector place increasing demands upon the industry and its workforce. In this environment the rate at which technical skills are becoming obsolete is increasing. Moreover, not only is it fundamental to develop current skills, it is also crucial to be multi-skilled, with convergent technologies increasing the need to develop dual apprenticeships. Yet, as workers age in this industry the likelihood of them undertaken current training has diminished (for every one worker training aged 45 and over, there were 6.4 workers aged 15 to 44 years in training in 2000-01).
The need for advanced Occupational, Health and Safety risk management systems within Communication Services is also increasingly important, given the environment of constant change. Within an ageing workforce, Communication Services employers should also seek to assess and manage these risks based on age.
Source:
ElectroComms and EnergyUtilities Qualifications Standards Body of Australia (2003) EE-Oz National Vet Plan For Industry 2003-2006/8
